IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


4Si 


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Hiotographic 

Sciences 
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33  WIST  MAIN  STMET 

WEBSTM.N.Y.  USSO 

(716)  S72-4S03 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  HistoricaS  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


.> 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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D 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


/ 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagte 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pelliculAe 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


r~|    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


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n 


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obtenir  la  meiileure  image  possible. 


[i]  -  xii,  [1 J  ■  387,  2. 7, 10  &  8  p.  Wrinkled  pages  may  film 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

1SX 

22X 

2ex 

30X 

J 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


tails 
du 

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Th«  copy  filmed  her*  has  been  reproduced  thenks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

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shall  contain  the  symbol  — i^-  (meaning  "CON- 
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whichever  applies. 


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ginArositA  de: 

La  bibliothAque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 

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de  la  nettetA  de  I'exempieire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

,S-.    /  '     '  \ 

,       ■    \  ■ 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  film6s  en  commengant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
origineux  sont  fiimte  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  11  est  film6  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


rrata 
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lelure, 
1  A 


D 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

! 


A  NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVEBY. 


THE  REFUGEE: 


OB  TBB 


NAREATIYES  OF  FUGITIVE  SLAVES  IN  CANADA. 


BELATED  BY  THEMSELVES, 


WITH. 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  HISTORY  AND  CONDITION  OP  THE 
COLORED  POPULATION  OF  UPPER  CANADA. 


BY 


BENJAMIN  Drew. 


11; 


f 


BOSTON: 
PUBLISHED  BY  JOHN  P.  JEWETT  AND  COMPANY. 

CLEVELAND,  OHIO: 
JEWETT,  PROCTOR  AND  WORTHINGTON. 

MEvr  tork:  SHSLnoK,  iampost  and  blakbman. 

LONDON:  TRiJBNER  AND  CO. 


1856. 


LONOON. 


V 


'4 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1856,  by 

JOHN  P.  JEWETT  AND  COMPANY, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


PC 


CAMBRIDGE : 

AILEN   AND    FAaNHAU,    STSaBOTTPXRS   AND    PaOITEBS. 


v\ 


PUBLISHERS'  ADVERTISEMENT. 


'  I 


The  work  here  offered  to  the  public  will  be  found,  we  ven- 
ture to  say,  one  of  the  most  instructive  and  interesting  that  has 
yet  appeared  on  the  subject  of  American  Slavery.  It  is  origi- 
nal in  design  and  scope,  and  has  been  executed  with  the  most 
conscientious  care  and  fidelity.  The  author  is  a  gentleman  of 
high  character,  whose  statements  may  be  implicitly  relied  upon, 
and  whose  intelligence  is  not  likely  to  have  been  deceived.  As 
for  the  statements  of  the  Fugitives  from  Slavery,  they  speak  for 
themselves.  Nowhere  else  can  be  found  such  a  mass  of  direct 
and  unimpeachable  testimony  as  to  the  true  character  of  the 
Peculiar  Institution,  by  witnesses  who  have  had  the  best  oppor- 
tumties  of  knowing  its  nature,  and  who  occupy  a  point  of  view 
from  which  its  characteristic  lineaments  can  be  most  distinctly 
discerned. 

We  are  confident  that  "  A  North-side  View  of  Slavery  "  will 
prove  to  be  not  only  one  of  the  most  effective  Anti-slavery  argu- 
ments ever  issued  from  the  press,  but  a  valuable  and  perma- 
nent contribution  to  American  Literature. 

JOHN  P.  JEWETT  &  CO. 


(iii) 


i  I 


;r  I 


y\ 


1 1 


AUTHOR'S  PREFACE. 


The  colored  population  of  Upper  Canada,  was  estimated  in 
the  First  Report  of  the  Anti-Skivery  Society  of  Canada,  in 
1852,  at  thirty  thousand.'  Of  this  large  number,  nearly  all  the 
adults,  and  many  of  the  children,  have  been  fugitive  slaves 
from  the  United  States;  it  is,  therefore,  natural  that  the 
citizens  of  this  Republic  should  feel  an  interest  in  their  fate 
and  fortunes.  Many  causes,  however,  have  hitherto  pre- 
vented the  public  generally  from  knowing  their  exact  condi- 
tion and  circumstances.  Their  enemies,  the  supporters  of 
slavery,  have  represented  them  as  ^  indolent,  vicious,  and  de- 
based ;  suffering  and  starving,  because  they  have  no  kind  mas- 
ters to  do  the  thinking  for  them,  and  to  \  r^;-'.  them  to  the 
necessary  labor,  which  their  own  laziness  and  want  of  fore- 
cast, lead  them  to  avoid."  Some  of  their  friends,  anxious  to  ob- 
tain aid  for  the  comparatively  few  in  number,  (perhaps  three 
thousand  in  all,)  who  have  actually  stood  in  need  of  assist- 
ance, have  not,  in  all  cases,  been  sufficiently  discriminating  in 
their  statements :  old  settlei'S  and  new,  the  rich  and  the  poor, 
the  good  and  the  bad,  have  suffered  alike  from  imputations  of 
poverty  and  starvation  —  misfortunes,  which,  if  resulting  from 
idleness,  are  akin  to  crimes.     Still  another  set  of  men,  selfish  in 

A*  (V) 


m 


J^^*- 


y  I 


M 


AUTUOR'S  PREFACE. 


purpose,  have,  while  pretending  to  act  for  the  fugitives,  found  a 
way  to  the  purses  of  the  sympathetic,  and  appropriated  to  their 
own  use,  funds  intended  for  supposititious  sufferers. 

Such  being  the  state  of  the  case,  it  may  relieve  some  minds 
from  doubt  and  perplexity,  to  hear  from  the  refugees  them- 
selves, their  own  opinions  of  their  condition  and  their  wants.' 
These  will  be  found  among  the  narratives  which  occupy  the 
greater  part  of  the  present  volume. 

Further,  the  personal  experiences  of  the  colored  Canadians, 
while  held  in  bondage  in  their  native  land,  shed  a  peculiar  lustre 
on  the  Institution  of  the  South.  They  reveal  the  hideousness 
of  the  sm,  which,  while  calling  on  the  North  to  fall  down  and 
worship  it,  almost  equals  the  tempter  himself  in  the  felicity  of 
scriptural  quotations. 

The  narratives  were  gathered  promiscuously  from  persons 
whom  the  author  met  with  in  the  course  of  a  tour  through  the 
cities  and  settlements  of  Canada  West.  While  his  informants 
talked,  the  author  wrote :  nor  are  there  in  the  whole  volume  a 
dozen  verbal  alterations  which  w^ere  not  made  at  the  moment 
of  writing,  while  in  haste  to  make  the  pen  become  a  tongue  for 
the  dumb. 

Many  who  furnished  interesting  anecdotes  and  personal  his- 
tories may,  perhaps,  feel  some  disappointment  because  their 
contributions  are  omitted  in  the  present  work.  But  to  publish 
the  whole,  would  far  transcend  the  limits  of  a  single  volume. 
The  manuscripts,  however,  are  in  safe-keeping,  and  will,  in  all 
probability,  be  given  to  the  world  on  some  future  occasion. 

For  the  real  names  which  appear  in  the  manuscripts  of  the 
narratives  published,  it  has  been  deemed  advisable,  with  few 
exceptions,  that  letters  should  be  substituted. 

To  those  persons  mentioned  in  the  course  of  the  work  as 


ATTTHOR^B  PRBFACB. 


▼u 


having  given  him  assistance  anid  aid,  the  author  acknowledge! 
his  obligations :  and  he  feels,  likewise,  that  his  thanks  are  due 
to  Thomas  Henning,  Esq.,  Secretary  of  the  Anti-Slavery  Soci- 
ety of  Canada;  F.  G.  Simpson,  Esq.,  Agent  of  the  same 
Society,  and  S.  Walton,  Esq.*,  of  Toronto ;  John  Doyle,  Esq. 
City  Clerk,  London;  Rev.  Mr.  Peydon,  of  Hamilton;  Rev. 
William  King,  Buxton;  John  Hatfield,  Esq.,  Amherstburg; 
John  Fairfield,  Esq.,  Canada  West 

Boston,  1855. 


'* 


$■ 


CONTENTS. 


INTKODUCTION .       1 

ST.  CATHARINES 17 

James  Adams         .       . "     .       .       .       .       .       .       .19 

William  Johnson .         t9 

Harriot  Tubman 80 

Mrs. 81 

Rev.  Alexander  Hemsley       .       .        .       .       .       .       .      8S 

John  Seward 40 

James  Seward 41« 

Mrs.  James  Seward 41 

Mr.  Bohm 48 

James  M.  Williams 48 

John  Atkinson .       .       .48 

Mrs.  Ellis 44 

Dan  Josiah  Lockhart      .        .       .       .       ,        .       .       .45 

Mrs.  Nancy  Howard 60 

George  Johnson 69 , 

Isaac  Williams 64 

Christopher  Nichols .67 

Henry  Banks      . 79 

John  W.  Lindsey 77 

Henry  Atkinson  ........         78 

William  Grose .89 

Da,vidWest 87 

Henry  Jackson .91 

TORONTO. 94 

Charles  H.  Green 96 

James  W.  Sumler 97 

Patrick  Snead .99 

(ix) 


w^ 


CONTENTS. 


Charles  Foyton  Lucas 
Benedict  Dancan    . 
William  Howard 
Bobert  Belt    . 
Elijah  Jenkins     . 
John  A.  Hunter 
Sam  Davis 


HAMILTON  . 

Rev.  R.  S,  W.  Sorrick 
Edward  Patterson 
Williamson  Pease 
Henry  Williamson 

GALT  .... 

William  Thompson 
Henry  Gowens    . 
Mrs.  Henry  Gowens 

LONDON     .       .        .       . 
Aby  B.  Jonea  . 


Alfred  T.  Jones 
Nelson  Moss  . 
Francis  Henderson 
Mrs.  Francis  Henderson 
John  Holmes 

Mrs. Brown    . 

John  D.  Moore   . 
Christopher  Hamilton     . 
Mrs.  Christopher  Hamilton 
Alexander  Hamilton 
Mrs.  Sarah  Jackson    . 
Henry  Morehead    . 
Anonymous 
John  Warren 
Benjamin  Miller 


QUEEN'S  BUSH  .        .       . 

William  Jackson 

Thomas  L.  Wood  Knox 
■^Tii^  HSophia  Pooloy  . 

John  Francis     .    . 

John  Little 

Mrs.  John  Little 


I  105 
.  110 

ill 
.  112 

113 
.  114 

115 

.  118 
119 

I  121 
123 

.  133 


136 
136 
138 
143 

147 
149 
152 
153 
154 
160 
161 
173 
174 
175 
177 
177 
179 
180 
182 
183 
187 

189 

189 
191 
192 
196 
198 
224 


CONTENTS. 


XX 


CHATHAM        .       .       .       .       .       .       ...       .  834 

J.  C.  Brown 289 

Philip  Younger 248 

Gilb^^rt  Dickey        .        .        . 251 

William  J.  Anderson          .        .        .        .        .        .        .  254 

Henry  Crawhion 256 

Mary  Yonnger 258 

Edward  Hicks 260 

Henry  Blue 270 

Aaron  Siddles 271 

JohnC n 274 

Reuben  Saunders 274 

Thomas  Hedgebcth 276 

William  Brown 280 

Anonymous 28S 

Isaac  Griffen         , , '.        .  284 

William  Street    . 285 

BUXTON 291 

Isaac  Riley 298 

Mrs.  Isaac  Riley 299 

Harry  Thomas 301 

R.  Van  Branken *       •        •.  ^05 

Henry  Johnson 306 

DRESDEN ;  DAWN .        .        .308 

British  American  Institute 309 

William  H.  Bradley 312 

William  Hall 314 

WINDSOR .        .  321 

Refugees'  Home 323 

Thomas  Jones 326 

William  S.  Edwards 328 

Mrs.  Colman  Freeman 330 

Ben  Blackburn 333 

William  L.  Humbert 333 

David  Cooper 334 

Industrial  Institution 334 

John  Martin 335 

Daniel  Hall 337 

Lydia  Adams 338 

J.  F.  White 339 

Leonard  Harrod 339 


rl 


xu 


CONTENTS. 


a 


SANDWICH  . 

George  Williams 

Horny  Brant 

Mrs.  Honry  Brant    , 

AMHEBSTBUEG     . 
Charles  Brown 
James  Smith     . 
Eev.  William  Troy 
William  Lyons 
Joseph  Sanford 
John  Hatfield    . 

COLCHESTER  . 

Bobert  Nelson   . 
David  Grier 
Ephrfiim  Waterford 
Eli  Artis 
Ephraim  Casey 
Ber.  William  Bath 

GOSFIELD     . 

John  Chapman 
Thomas  Johnson 
Eli  Johnson  . 


341 
343 
344 
346 

348 

350 
351 
353 
358 
358 
363 

367 

369 
373 
373 
374 
374 
375 

378 

378 
379 
381 


i-; 


f^-;^' 


!'■"!;: 


I  i  ■* 


'  i 


INTRODUCTION. 


.-^ 


<  When  in  any  State,  the  oppression  of  the  laboring 
portion  of  the  community  amounts  to  an  entire  depri- 
vation of  their  civil  and  personal  rights;  when  it  as- 
sumes to  control  their  wills,  to  assign  them  tasks,  to  reap 
the  rewards  of  their  labor,  and  to  punish  with  bodily 
tortures  the  least  infraction  of  its  mandates,  it  is  obvi- 
ous that  the  class  so  overwhelmed  with  injustice,  are 
necessarily,  unless  prevented  by  ignorance  from  know- 
ing their  rights  and  their  wrongs,  the  enemies  of  the 
government.  To  them,  insurrection  and  rebellion  are 
primary,  original  duties.  If  successfully  thwarted  in 
the  performance  of  these,  emigration  suggests  itself  as 
the  next  means  of  escaping  the  evils  under  which  they 
groan.  From  the  exercise  of  this  right,  they  can  only 
be  restrained  by  fear  and  force.  These,  however,  will 
sometimes  be  found  inadequate  to  hold  in  check  the 
natural  desire  of  liberty.  Many,  in  spite  of  all  opposi- 
tion, in  the  face  of  torture  and  death,  will  seek  an 
asylum  in  foreign  lands,  and  reveal  to  the  ears  of  pity- 
ing indignation,  the  secrets  of  the  prisonhouse. 

1 


.    ^1 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  escape  of  slaves  forms  the  most  irritating  sub- 
ject of  discussion  between  the  North  and  the  South. 

If  on  this,  as  on  all  other  evils  connected  with  or 
growing  out  of  slavery,  a  common  man  of  plain  com- 
mon sense,  were  asked  his  opinion,  he  would  probably 
say  —  "  remove  the  cause  and  the  effects  will  cease  ;  re- 
move the  oppression  which  induces  to  emigration,  and 
a  fugitive  slave  will  be  an  impossibility."  But  this 
"  would  only  excite  a  smile  at  the  South."  How  mis- 
taken is  common  sense !  '"■ '■ 

The  South  are  taking  measures,  (when  was  it  oth- 
erwise ?)  to  preserve,  extend,  and  perpetuate  slavery. 
The  problem  must  be  solved,  if  solved  at  all,  without 
the  oppression  being  removed.         -■       -  «?  r  7..? 

By  the  combined  influence  of  ignorance  and  fear,  the 
amount  of  emigration  has  been  reduced  to  a  minimum. 
We  could  wish  the  South  would  adopt  a  mode  of  rea- 
soning sometimes  presented  to  us,  —  something  of  this 
sort;  —  in  all  kinds  of  business,  losses  are  inevitabl(< 
Men  at  the  North  lose  by  fall  of  stocks,  by  consignments, 
by  fires,  and  in  a  great  variety  of  ways.  If  a  Yankee 
loses  a  ship  worth  twenty  thousand  dollars,  he  does  not 
expend  one  hundred  thousand  in  endeavoring  to  fish  it 
up.  He  simply  enters  it  in  his  account  of  profit  and 
loss.  And  if  a  slave  runs  away,  we  might  as  well  make 
the  same  entry  quietly,  as  to  wound  the  feelings  and 
sensibilities  of  our  northern  friends ;  magnifying  and 
increasing  "  the  deep  sectional  difference  of  inborn  feel- 
ing;" and  filling  whole  cities  with  grief,  shame,  and 


-X 


INTRODUCTION. 


8 


an  indignation  irrepressible,  .except  by  marines  and  de- 
tachments of  artillery. 

Meanwhile  the  fugitive  slave  law  continues  to  be 
enforced.  *:- 'ir 

Gloss  the  matter  over  as  much  as  we  may,  and  take 
"  south-side  views  "  through  a  multiplying  glass,  —  yet 
we  must  admit,  that  the  slave's  is  a  cruel  lot. 

We  may  compare  King  James's  or  the  Douay  Bible 
with  the  Hebrew  and  the  Septuagint;  we  may  find 
there,  and  in  all  recensions,  polyglotts,  and  translations 
extant,  the  history  of  Abraham  and  Hagar, — yet  we 
must  allow,  that  an  American  slave,  in  his  best  estate, 
is  a  man  badly  educated,  and  systematically  ill  used. 

We  may  study  the  New  Testament  and  become  con- 
versant with  the  proceedings  of  Paul  in  regard  to  One- 
simus ;  we  may  wade  through  the  commentaries  of 
pro-slavery  and  anti-slavery  writers  thereupon,  —  yet 
the  truth  will  remain,  that  an  American  slave  is  deemed 
"  a  chattel  personal,"  — "  the  property  of  a  master  to 
whom  he  belongs,"  —  that  he  is  liable  to  be  flogged, 
sold,  and  divorced,  as  the  interest,  caprice,  or  spite  of 
his  master  may  dictate.  ..^      ^^. 

.;  It  may  possibly  be  the  case  that  the  denunciatory 
language  which  the  South  has  used  in  speaking  of  abo- 
litionists, may  have  "  irritated  "  them,  and  that,  under 
this  irritation,  they  have  manifested  more  zeal  in  the 
cause  of  emancipation,  than  they  would  otherwise  have 
done.  Still  we  deem  it  undeniable,  that  if  there  is  any 
situation  on  earth  in  which  a  man  can  be  placed,  which 
should  stir  up  from  its  depths,  the  most  active  sympa- 


v\ 


! 


4  V     r^    INTRODUCTION.  ^ 

thies  of  the  human  heart,  it  is  the  deplorable  situation 
of  an  American  slave. 

If  these  things  are  so,  how  can  it  be  wrong  to  assist 
a  slave  who  is  making  his  escape  ?  Surely,  to  aid  the 
unfortunate  is  a  duty,  which  no  power  on  earth  can 
legislate  into  a  crime.  v  ,.  ,^  .. 

But  at  this  late  day,  the  question  is  forced  upon  us, 
whether  it  is  an  unfortunate  thing  for  a  man  to  be  a 
slave  ?  This  "  excites  a  smile  "  at  the  North,  —  but  as 
this  book  is  destined  to  be  read  at  the  South  as  well  as 
at  the  North,  we  will  examine  the  question  a  little. 

Slavery,  we  are  told,  has  its  bright  as  well  as  its  dark 
parts.  In  southern  cities,  there  is  good  order,  the 
streets  are  quiet  in  the  night,  and  there  is  an  absence 
of  mobs.  In  that  portion  of  southern  society  which 
is  under  the  highest  cultivation,  the  slaves  smile,  laugh, 
are  happy,  —  one  must  see  that  they  are  happy.  Relig- 
ion has  gained  a  wonderful  ascendency  among  the  col- 
ored people.  The  number  of  communicants  among 
them  is  very  large.  "  The  only  difference  between  them 
and  us,  as  to  religious  instruction  is,  they  cannot  gen- 
erally read."  "  As  responsibility,  anxiety  about  the  pres- 
ent and  future,  are  the  chief  enemies  to  cheerfulness, 
and,  among  mental  causes,  to  health,  it  is  obvious  that 
if  one  can  have  all  his  present  wants  supplied,  with  no 
care  about  short  crops,  the  markets,  notes  payable,  bills 
due,  be  relieved  from  the  necessity  of  planning  and 
contriving,  all  the  hard  thinking  being  done  for  him  by 
another,  while  useful  and  honorable  employment  fills 
his  thoughts  and  hands,  he  is  so  far  in  a  situation  favor- 


INTRODUCTION. 


able  to  great  comfort,  which  will  show  itself  in  his 
whole  outer  man.  Some  will  say,  'This  is  the  low- 
est kind  of  happiness.'  Yet  it  is  all  that  a  large 
portion  of  the  race  seek  for ;  and  few,  except  slaves, 
obtain  it."  "  If  the  colored  people  of  Savannah,  Colum- 
bia, and  Richmond,  are  not,  as  a  whole,  a  happy  peo- 
ple, I,"  says  the  reverend  author  from  whom  we  quote, 
"  have  never  seen  any."  We  are  told,  indeed,  that 
"  Cases  illustrating  the  opposite  of  almost  every  agree- 
able statement  now  made  could  also  be  multiplied ; 
still  the  things  just  described  are  as  represented,  and 
he  is  not  in  a  healthful  state  of  mind,  who  cannot  appre- 
ciate them.  Our  error  has  been  in  mixing  the  dark 
and  bright  parts  of  slavery  together.  This  is  wrong. 
We  should  never  lose  sight  of  distinct  moral  qualities 
in  character,  as  we  do  of  different  colors  in  mixing 
paint.  Let  us  judge  slavery  in  this  manner;  let  us 
keep  her  different  qualities  distinct  —  abhor  that  in  her 
which  is  evil,  rejoice  in  that  which  is  good." 

Damocles  sits  at  the  royal  banquet,  surrounded  with 
gold  and  silver  plate ;  the  table  is  loaded  with  delica- 
cies of  every  kind.  "  Happy  fellow  that  Damocles," 
says  Mr.  South,  "  he  is  in  a  broad  laugh ! " 

"  Yes ; "  answers  Mr.  North,  "  but  look  —  do  you  not 
see  that  glittering  sword  hanging  over  his  head  by  a 
single  hair  ?  " 

"Nevermind  the  sword, — you  are  mixing  together 
the  bright  and  the  dark.  This  is  wrong.  Let  us,  at 
present,  consider  only  the  dinner.    What  splendid  fare ! 


/ 


6 


INTRODUCTION. 


Judging  from  the  gold  and  silver  plate,  from  the  chap- 
lets  of  roses,  from  the  handsome  pages  about  him,  from 
the  mingled  flavors  of  the  roast  and  the  boiled,  and 
from  the  appetite  of  Damocles  himself,  one  must  see 
that  he  is  a  happy  man."  ^  -^    ^"      -  '■■> 

"  If  he  is  happy  it  is  either  because  he  is  ignorant  of 
his  condition,  —  or  knowing  '  the  day  of  trouble  and 
of  treading  down,'  he  has  adopted  the  philosophy 
spoken  of  by  the  prophet,  *  let  us  eat  and  drink,  for  to- 
morrow we  shall  die.'  As  happy  as  Damocles  appears, 
there  is  the  sword,  —  who  would  want  a  good  dinner 
with  such  an  accompaniment?"       -<  ...   a-  ,.w  ^i^. 

"  You  are  wrong.  The  dinner  is  good  —  let  us  re- 
joice over  that.  Damocles  fares  well.  It  is  a  pity  that 
the  hungry,  dirty,  rascally,  riotous  Celts  cannot  have 
just  such  a  dinner  every  day  at  the  table  of  Dionysius. 
Now  we  will  examine  the  sword  a  little  —  but  lei^  us 
handle  it  gingerly." 

If  slavery  causes  an  "  absence  of  mobs,"  let  slavery 
have  all  due  credit  on  that  score.  Give  it  joy  that  it 
prevented  the  destruction  of  Cassius  M.  Clay's  press, 
the  murder  of  Lovejoy,  the  expulsion  of  Judge  Hoar, 
the  lynching  of  Amos  Dresser,  and  the  thousand  and 
one  acts  of  violence  and  outrage  which  have  caused 
some  unreflecting  men  to  deny  that  the  South  is  ten- 
anted by  a  civilized  people  :  more  recently  that  it  pre- 
vented a  mob  of  armed  Missourians  from  interfering  in 
the  Kansas  election,  and  spared  the  office  of  the  Park- 
ville  Luminary.  We  presume  that  the  absence  of 
mobs  of  colored  persons  must  have  been  intended.   .-    . 


i!i 


INTRODUCTION. 


A  strong  police  must  watch  the  motions  of  the  op- 
pr'^ssed — ^^  prevent  them  from  meeting  together  unless 
some  of  the  oppressors  are  present  —  keep  them  in 
their  quarters  at  night,  etc.  This  system  of  police 
usually  answers  its  atrocious  purpose  very  well.  It 
wields  the  lash  against  offenders,  and  instils  into  the 
oppressed  the  fear  requisite  to  suppress  any  overt  act 
%ward  gaining  their  rights  as  human  beings.  Inci- 
dentally, it  hinders  the  commission  of  crimes,  prevents 
mobs  [of  colored  persons],  and  keeps  the  streets  quiet, 
and  is  so  far  beneficent  in  its  action.  Yet  it  cannot  be 
denied  that  the  cause  of  liberty  in  the  world  has  been 
much  indebted  to  mobs.  ,■      ■   '  ,  >     -    .     ,  i  .. . 

%"  Oppression  driveth  a  wise  man  mad."  The  op- 
pressed, then,  must  not  be  made  wise.  If  they  do  not 
know  that  a  laborer  can  be  a  free  man,  the  thought  of 
freedom  for  themselves  will  not,  perhaps,  enter  their 
heads.  If  they  can  be  raised^  so  ignorant  as  to  believe 
that  slavery  is  the  proper  and  natural  condition  of  their 
being,  —  that  they  cannot  take  care  of  themselves,  they 
will  probably,  be  contented  with  their  lot.  The  more 
infantile  their  minds  are  suffered  to  remain,  the  less 
will  they  comprehend  the  absolute  wretchedness  of 
their  estate ;  the  less  opportunity  will  they  have  to 
learn  of  lands  where  all  are  free,  —  the  less  capable 
will  they  be  of  putting  forth  exertion  to  resist  oppres- 
sion or  to  escape  from  it.  The  intention  of  the  slave- 
holders in  this  respect,  seems  to  be  approximately  real- 
ized. Unaware  of  the  delights  of  mental  cultivation, 
of  the  proper  growth  and  expansion  of  the  human  soul- 


8 


INTRODUCTION. 


K 


many  of  the  oppressed  class  will  appear  in  good  humor 
and  often  in  a  "  broad  laugh."  The  manhood  of  this 
portion  of  the  sufferers  has  not,  indeed,  been  "  crushed 
out  of  them  :  "  —  it  has  never  been  developed.  They 
are  little  children  in  every  thing  but  bodily  maturity. 
"  The  slaves  in  Savannah,"  says  Patrick  Snead,  a  fugi- 
tive slave  from  that  city,  "  are  poor,  ignorant  creatures, 

—  the?/ dofiH  know  their  condition^'  ♦ 
A  class  of  men  retained  in  the  lowest  form  of  bond- 
age, hopeless  of  any  thing  higher  and  better  on  earth, 

—  at  the  best  dividing  their  earnings  with  masters,  but 
more  often  urged  to  hard  and  prolonged  labor,  through 
the  influence  of  fear,  —  incapable  of  obtaining  any  de- 
gree of  cultivation  or  dignity  here  below,  —  will  be 
peculiarly  interested  in  representations  of  a  better  life 
hereafter.  A  religion  which  insists  on  obedience  to 
masters  and  mistresses,  and  which  inculcates  forgive- 
ness of  injuries,  will  find  many  teachers  among  those 
whose  domestic  cares  lessen,  and  whose  profits  rise  in 
proportion  to  the  number  of  proselytes,  and  whose 
codes  legalize  the  grossest  wrongs :  a  faith  which  prom- 
ises heavenly  rewards  to  humility,  obedience,  and  pa- 
tience, —  which  admonishes  him  that  is  smitten  on  one 
cheek  to  turn  the  other  also,  will  find  many  converts 
among  those  who  are  glad  to  escape  a  sense  of  their 
indignities  and  incessant  humiliations,  by  believing  that 
servility  itself  is  a  Christian  grace.  "  Suppose  a  fam- 
ily [of  slaves]  bound  to  their  master  by  affection  and 
respect.  Whatever  he  can  make  appear  to  their  under- 
standings and  consciences  to  be  right,  he  has  as  much 


INTRODUCTION. 


9 


power  to  enforce  upon  them  as  ever  falls  to  the  power 
of  moral  suasion."  "  If  the  numbers  of  pious  slaves 
are  an  indication,  it  must  be  confessed  that  slave-own- 
ers, as  a  body,  have  performed  their  Christian  duties  to 
their  slaves  to  a  degree  which  the  masters  of  free  ap- 
prentices and  the  employers  of  free  laborers  have  as  yet 
hardly  equalled."  What  knowledge  the  slaves  have 
of  the  Scriptures  is  obtained  by  the  ear,  for  "  they  are 
generally  unable  to  read."  "While  we  would  hope  that 
many  among  the  class  of  oppressors  are  faithful  in  pro- 
claiming the  whole  counsel  of  God,  it  must  be  admitted 
that  there  is  a  strong  temptation  on  the  part  of  the  mas- 
ters to  use  the  Scriptures  mainly  as  an  auxiliary  to  the 
overseer.  ■<*--. 

The  South-side  View  of  Slavery  says,  "  The  gospel 
which  is  preached  to  them  [the  slaves],  so  far  as  I 
heard  it,  is  the  same  gospel  which  is  preached  to  us." 
But  the  prayers  of  the  slaves  [p.  54  and  bKi\  and  the 
hymns  they  selected,  [p.  55]  Watts'  Ps.  51,  Hymns 
139,  B.  I.  and  90,  B.  II.,  seem  to  confirm  the  view  we 
have  presented ;  while  the  address  of  the  superintend- 
ent of  the  colored  Sabbath  school,  [p.  85]  by  no  means 
contradicts  it :  nor  does  the  hymn  sung  by  slaves  [p. 
212]. 

To  magnify  the  benefits  which  incidentally  and  cas- 
ually grow  out  of  the  system  of  slavery,  and  to  repre- 
sent them  as  vast  enough  to  sink  its  direct  enormities 
into  comparative  insignificance,  is,  as  if  a  man  were 
to  point  to  an  abundant  harvest  of  corn,  on  the  blood- 


10 


INTnODlJCTlON. 


•ti 


<^, .^ilid  field  of   Waterloo,  as  a  Bufficient  reason  for 
invoiviing  ilw  world  in  ihc  horrors  of  war. 

If,  as  we  have  said,  the  slave's  lot  is  a  cruel  cue,— 
if,  in  his  bv.^  estate,  the  enslaved  American  is  a  man 
badly  educated,  and  «vstematically  ill-used,  —  if,  by 
lujiw  he  is  "  the  property  of  a  master  to  whom  he  be- 
longs "  —  liable  to  be  flogged,  sold,  and  robbed  of  his 
wife  and  children,  as  the  interest,  or  caprice,  or  spite  of 
the  master  may  dictate  —  it  appears  to  us  that  to  as- 
sist him  if  he  endeavors  to  escape  from  bondage,  is  a 
binding  duty  which  not  all  the  constitutions,  laws,  and 
sophistries  in  Christendom  can  erect  into  a  crime.  ^ 

But  before  you  render  assistance,  you  should  know 
"  whom  you  are  helping  and  for  what  reason  he  has 
fled."  Perhaps  he  is  running  away  to  get  rid  of  a  scold- 
ing wife,  —  or  he  may  be  an  ungrateful  man,  —  nay,  he 
may  be  a  thief  or  a  murderer. 

And  where  am  I  to  go  for  information  on  these 
points  ?  To  his  pursuers  ?  They  will  not  tell  me  the 
fcruth.  Patrick  Snead,  a  fugitive  from  Savannah,  as 
white  as  nine  tenths  of  the  men  of  the  north,  and  not 
therefore  "  a  fugitive  black  man,"  was  arrested  on 
a  false  charge  of  murder.  Sims  and  Burns,  both 
^^  black  men,"  were  kidnapped  in  Boston  mi  ■  barges  of 
theft.  By  taking  the  word  of  a  pursuer,  T  '  ;'v  •  ,  ange 
a  shipmate  into  the  jaws  of  a  shark."  Proceedings  are  • 
"  summary,"  —  and  by  the  time  I  could  obtain  reliable 
j  ^^Digence,  the  fugitive  might  become  the  victim  of 
c.~i  i...  ve.ised    yrant.  whose  malice  is  protected  by  writ- 


w^ 


INTRODUCTION. 


11 


mge 
are 

lable 
of 
knfit- 


i 


ten  atrocities  dciu)iniim(''fl  laws.  In  any  particular 
case,  the  probabiiiti*  s  are,  that  the  fugitive  slave  is  an 
innocent  man,  —  a  wronged  md  sutlering  brother,  to 
hear  whose  prayer  it  would  be  perilous  for  a  Christian 
to  refuse.  But  if,  in  one  case  out  of  a  thousand,  it 
should  subsequently  appear,  that  he  had  committed  lar- 
reny,  or  had  even  "killed  an  Egyptian,"  —  it  might 
'i  :iet  our  consciences  to  reflect  that  in  judging  of  a 
slave's  guilt,  allowances  ought  to  be  made  for  the  pe- 
culiar privations  and  wrongs,  incident  to  a  slave's  life, 
and  on  the  score  of  the  abject  ignorance,  to  which  he 
has  been  condemned  by  an  unjust  law,  —  that  if  the 
same  crime  had  been  perpetrated  by  a  white  man,  in 
order  to  effect  his  escape  from  wrongful  captivity  among 
Patagonians  or  Arabs,  he  would  be  acquitted  .  oth  in 
conscience  and  law,  —  and  that  it  were  better  to  aid 
ten,  nay,  ten  thousand  poor,  unenlightened,  uninstriicted 
creatures  to  escape  hanging,  than  to  incur  the  treiaen- 
dous  responsibility  of  consigning  an  innocent  man  .  o  a 
doom  worse  than  death  itself. 

But  even  in  cases  where  the  fugitives  bring  proot 
that  they  are  fleeing  from  brutal  treatment,  "  no  rule 
was  ever  made  that  could  determine  a  man's  duty,'* 
We  must  "  return  to  the  Constitution  !  "  Return  to 
the  gospel,  rather.  "  Lord  when  saw  we  thee,  a  stranger. 
and  did  not  minister  unto  thee  ?  Then  shall  he  answer 
them,  snying.  Verily,  I  say  unto  you,  Inasmuch  as  ye 
did  it  not  to  one  of  the  least  of  these  ye  did  it  not  to 
me.'-  Could  not  an  ingenious  clergyman  manage  to 
construct  from  this  passage  a  rule  to  determine  a  man's 


\v 


12 


INTKODUCTION. 


■i. 


J 


duty  in  case  of  a  fugitive  stranger  ?  To  suppose  that 
one  on  the  left  hand  might  urge  in  reply,  "  Lord,  the 
least  of  thy  brethren  came  to  my  door,  hungered,  and 
athirst,  a  stranger,  and  naked ;  it  offended  my  moral 
sense  to  have  him  taken  back  to  involuntary  servitude : 
but  there  were  other  interests  for  moral  sense  to  be  con- 
cerned about  besides  those  of  a  fugitive  black  man.  I 
lived  in  a  Union,  under  a  Constitution,  which  contained 
a  '  simple  provision '  that  he  must  be  delivered  up,  — 
and  there  was  a  law  of  the  land,  which  made  it  penal 
to  minister  to  thy  brother,  —  and  I  chose  to  obey  man, 
rather  than  to  obey  God,  therefore  place  me  among  the 
sheep."  To  suppose  that  this  might  be  urged  in  reply, 
were  taking  a  south-side  view  of  the  day  of  judgment. 
A  certain  man  on  his  way  from  Jerusalem  to  Jericho 
"  fell  among  thieves  which  stripped  him  of  his  raiment, 
and  wounded  him,  and  departed,  leaving  him  half 
dead."  Leaving  him  !  They  were  quite  merciful  com- 
pared with  slave-hunters,  —  these  take  man  and  all. 
The  priest  and  the  Levite  saw  him  but  had  no  com- 
passion on  him,  —  perhaps  they  wanted  to  know  whom 
they  were  helping,  before  they  lent  their  aid,  —  or  per- 
haps they  had  constitutional  scruples.  But  a  certain 
Samaritan  put  him  on  his  own  beast,  and  brought  him 
to  an  inn.  "  Which  now  of  these  three,  thinkest  thou, 
was  neighbor  unto  him  that  fell  among  the  thieves  ? 
And  he  said,  he  that  showed  mercy  on  him.  Then  said 
Jesus  unto  him,  Go^  and  do  thou  likeivise"  This  is  in 
illustratioii  of  the  law,  "  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor 
as  thyself,"  —  a  law  rather   "niGHER"  than  the  Blue 


\ 


INTRODUCTION. 


13 


se  that 
•rd,  the 
d,  and 
moral 
vitude : 
be  con- 
lan.     I 
ntained. 
lup,— 
t  penal 
jy  man, 
ong  the 
n  reply, 
gment. 
Jericho 
aiment, 
urn   half 
ul  com- 
nd   all. 
o  com- 
whom 
or  per- 
certain 
rht  him 
3t  thou, 
liieves  ? 
len  said 
lis  is  in 
jisrhbor 
Blue 


Ridge,  or  the  Black  Code :  and  considering  the  source 
from  which  it  emanated,  possibly  somewhat  higher 
than  any  form  of  Constitution  in  any  human  gov- 
ernment whatever :  nay,  than  that  embodiment  of 
American  civilization,  that  flower  of  human  wisdom, 
that  rarest  union  of  exact  justice  and  gentle  mercy,  the 
unconstitutional  fugitive  slave  law.  But  until  the  "  law 
of  the  land  "  is  repealed,  all  appeals  to  a  "  higher  law  " 
are  "  fanaticism ! "  Let  us  strive  to  amend  the  Consti- 
tution, and  to  repeal  the  obnoxious  statute,  —  for  Con- 
stitution, and  laws,  and  the  Republic  itself  must  come 
to  nought,  if  the  people  subscribe  to  the  doctrine,  that 
the  enactments  of  man,  however  unjust  and  abomina- 
ble, are  paramount  to  the  merciful  laws  of  the  Most 
High  God. 

But  with  whatever  tint  of  words  oppression  may  be 
decked :  with  what  zeal  soever  it  may  strive  to  bring 
a  clean  thing  out  of  an  unclean,  and  to  prove  that  ig- 
norance and  degradation  and  man-chattelism  are  pro- 
ductive of  happiness  to  their  victims,  and  pregnant  with 
some  immense  good  in  some  unknown  way  to  Africa, 
and  to  those  persons  in  this  country  having  less  or 
more  African  blood,  and  who  are  of  all  shades  and  col- 
ors, "  from  snowy  white  to  sooty ;  "  it  is  a  positive  fact, 
that  many  thousands  have  fled  from  the  "  happiness  " 
of  southern  servitude,  and  found  freedom  in  Canada. 
From  the  ties  of  a  common  humanity  and  a  common 
nationality,  we  feel  a  deep  interest  in  those  exiled  men. 
Why  have  they  left  a  government  which  acknowledges 

2 


\ 


k  m 


■'i':J 


!:1 


iil- 


I- 


14 


INTRODUCTION. 


\ 


that  "all  i.ien  are  bom  free  and  equal,"  and  given  their 
allegiance  to  another  which  does  not  recognize  so  dem- 
ocratic a  doctrine  ?  What  circumstances  have  led 
them  to  prefer  a  monarchy  to  a  republic  ?  Why  have 
they  exchanged  the  genial  clime  of  the  south  for  a  realm 
where  winter  holds  half  the  year  ?  Why  have  they 
abandoned  friends  and  kindred,  kind  masters  and  mis- 
tresses who  were  willing  to  take  care  of  them,  [wives, 
children,  and  home,  we  would  add,  were  it  not  that  the 
idea  would  "  excite  a  smile  at  the  South  "]  to  live  a 
life  of  exile  among  strangers  ?  [What  are  their  views 
of  the  patriarchal  institution  ?  ^^hich  condition  do 
they  find  best  suited  to  the  African  race,  or  rather  to.  a_ 
race  partly  African,  partly  Saxon,  —  slavery  or  freedocgb?-- 
Should  a  contest  with  England  arise,  would  they  enlist 
under  the  cross  of  St.  George,  or  under  our  stars —  and 
stripes  ?  What  is  their  present  condition  ?  What  are 
their  prospects  for  the  future  ? 

These  and  similar  questions  can  be  most  satisfacto- 
rily answered  by  the  refugees  themselves. 

The  history  of  their  suflerings  and  their  wrongs,  of 
their  bondage  and  their  escape,  may  excite  in  some 
heart  hitherto  unmoved  a  glow  of  sympathy  for  our 
colored  brother,  yet  fraudulently  deprived  of  his  birth- 
right,—  it  may  furnish  the  true  friends  of  our  country, 
—  the  friends  of  liberty  and  equal  rights,  —  additional 
means  toward  overthrowing  the  slave  power  ;  that 
scandalous  aristocracy  which  has  hitherto  been  allowed 
to  a  great  extent  to  sway  the  destinies  of  our  nation. 


INTRODUCTION. 


%^ 


The  opinions  and  views  of  those  who  have  been  held 
in  bondage  in  the  United  States  may  enable  us  to  ob- 
tain a  clearer  insight  into  the  nature  of  American 
slavery,  —  may  prompt  us  to  perform  more  energeti- 
cally than  hitherto,  our  duties  to  the  oppressor  and  the 
oppressed,  —  to  the  North  and  to  the  South,  —  to  the 
national  government,  and  to  the  State  in  which  we 
dwell. 

The  writer  of  these  pages  intends  to  visit  those 
Americans  who  have  lied  from  the  North  and  the  South 
into  Upper  Canada  to  escape  the  oppression  exercised 
upon  th  3m  by  their  native  countrymen.  He  will  assure 
them  that  they  have  the  sympathies  of  many  friends  in 
the  United  States,  and  advise  them  that  their  good 
conduct  and  success  in  life  may  have  an  important 
bearing  on  the  destinies  of  millions  of  their  brethren,  col- 
ored and  white,  in  this  country,  who  have  the  misfor- 
tune to  be  descended  from  slave  mothers.  He  will  en- 
deavor to  collect,  with  a  view  to  placing  their  testimony 
on  record,  their  experiences  of  the  actual  workings  of 
slavery  —  what  experience  they  have  had  of  the  condi- 
tion of  liberty  —  and  such  statements  generally  as  they 
may  be  inclined  to  make,  bearing  upon  the  weighty 
subjects  of  oppression  and  freedom. 

Objections  may  be  urged  to  the  testimony  of  the 
refugees  on  the  score  of  their  ignorance.  We  may  nat- 
urally expect  errors  and  mistalvcs  in  regard  to  dates, 
ages,  proceedings  at  law,  and  other  matters  to  know 
which  Vv^ould  require  an  amount  of  information  not 
vouchsafed  to  American  slaves.     But  errors  of  this  sort 


ni 


R!l 


i 


'  I 


16 


INTRODUCTION. 


are  of  secondary  consequence,  and  should  rather  be 
imputed  to  those  who  have  from  interest  or  necessity 
(the  tyrant's  plea)  placed  their  candle  under  a  bushel, 
that  it  might  not  give  light  to  all  who  were  in  their 
house.  With  this  qualification  there  appears  to  be  no 
reason  why  the  statements  of  the  colored  Canadians 
should  not  be  received  as  readily  as  any  human  testi- 
mony whatever. 

If  verbal  alterations  are  required  care  will  be  taken 
to  preserve  the  meaning :  and  if  any  portion  of  a  nar- 
rative is  found  to  trench  upon  affairs  having  no  connec- 
tion with  slavery,  or  is  likely  to  involve  any  good  Sa- ' 
maritan  in  trouble,  it  will  receive  no  other  attention 
from  the  writer  than  to  be  studiously  omitted. 

And  now  we  will  make  the  best  of  our  way  to  Can- 
ada. From  that  point  let  us  survey  the  institution 
which  entails  many "  domestic  evils  deplored  by  tht 
whiter,"  —  which  "  impoverishes  a  State,"  —  "  stays  the 
development  of  its  natural  resources,"  —  is  "a  great 
curse "  —  "a  blot  on  our  holy  religion,"  —  "a  curse  in 
all  its  relations  of  master  and  servant,"  exerting  a  "bad 
influence,"  says  a  slaveholder,  "  upon  our  passions,  upon 
our  children,  destroying  that  sense  of  moral  responsi- 
bility which  ought  to  bear  upon  us  : "  and  let  us  in- 
dulge a  hope  that  the  cause  of  emancipation  may  re- 
ceive a  new  impulse  from  a  North- Side  View  of 
Slavery. 


THE   REFUGEE; 


OB 


A  NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


ST.   CATHARINES. 

Refuge!  Refuge  for  the  oppressed!  Refuge  for 
Americans  escaping  from  abuse  and  cruel  bondage  in 
their  native  land !  Refuge  for  my  countrymen  from  the 
lash  of  the  overseer,  from  the  hounds  and  guns  of  south- 
ern man-hunters,  from  the  clutches  of  northern  mar- 
shals and  commissioners !  Rest !  Rest  for  the  hunted 
slave !     Rest  for  the  travel-soiled  and  foot-sore  fugitive. 

Refuge  and  Rest!  These  are  the  first  ideas  which 
arise  in  my  mind  in  connection  with  the  town  of  St. 
Catharines. 

I  might  mention  here  its  pleasant  situation,  its  com- 
mercial advantages,  the  Welland  Canal,  its  telegraphic 
wires,  its  railroads,  its  famous  mineral  springs,  and 
other  matters  interesting  to  the  tourist ;  but  we  will 
step  aside  from  these,  and  look  at  St.  Catharines  as  the 
peaceful  home  of  hundreds  of  the  colored  race. 
;'    Of  the  population  of  about  six  thousand,  it  is  esti- 

2*  ^7) 


!■«-;« 


I  !;i 


\:   V 


18 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


mated  that  eight  hundred  are  of  African  descent. 
Nearly  all  the  adult  colored  people  have  at  some  time 
been  slaves. 

The  name,  too,  of  a  distinguished,  self-denying  phi- 
lanthropist comes  into  my  mind  with  the  recollection 
of  St.  Catharines,  the  Rev.  Hiram  Wilson.  With  him 
the  refugee  finds  a  welcome  and  a  home ;  the  poor 
stranger  is  pointed  by  him  to  the  means  of  honorable 
self-support,  and  from  him  receives  wise  counsel  and 
religious  instruction.  The  lady  of  Mr.  Wilson  warmly 
seconds  his  benevolent  exertions.  The  wayfarer,  how- 
ever forlorn,  degraded,  or  repulsive  even,  shares  her  hos- 
pitality, and  is  refreshed  by  her  words  of  kindness  and 
her  cheerful  smile. 

I  have  seen  the  negro  —  the  fugitive  slave,  wearied 
with  his  thousand  miles  of  travelling  by  night,  without 
suitable  shelter  meanwhile  for  rest  by  day,  who  had 
trodden  the  roughest  and  most  unfrequented  ways, 
fearing,  with  too  much  cause,  an  enemy  in  every  human 
being  who  had  crossed  his  path ;  I  have  seen  such  ar- 
rive at  Mr.  Wilson's,  bringing  with  him  the  subdued 
look,  the  air  of  sufferance,  the  furtive  glance  bespeaking 
dread,  and  deprecating  punishment ;  I  have  seen  such 
waited  on  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson,  fed  and  clothed, 
and  cheered,  and  cared  for.  Such  ministrations  give  a 
title  to  true  greatness,  a  title  recognized  by  Divine  wis- 
dom, and  deriving  its  authority  from  revelation  itself: 
"  Whosoever  would  be  great  among  you,  let  him  be 
your  minister." 

The  houses  occupied  by  the  colored  people  arc  neat 
and  plain  v/ithout;  tidy  and  comfortable  within. 
Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Wilson  and  other  friends, 
I  was  enabled  to  visit  many  families,  and  was  invari- 
ably received  with  courtesy  and  kindness.     Such  nar- 


■) 


;l  : 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


19 


ratives  and  statements  as  I  received  in  St.  Catharines, 
it  is  now  my  purpose  to  spread  before  the  reader. 


JAMES  ADAMS. 


I  was  raised  in  Virginia,  about  twenty  miles  above 


the  iuouth  of  the  Big  Kanawha. 


At  the  age  of  seven- 


teen, I  set  out  to  seek  freedom  in  company  with  Benja- 
min Harris,  (who  was  a  cousin  of  mine,)  and  a  woman 
and  four  children.  I  was  young,  and  they  had  not 
treated  me  very  badly ;  but  I  had  seen  older  men  treated 
worse  than  a  horse  or  a  hog  ought  to  be  treated ;  so, 
seeing  what  I  was  coming  to,  I  wished  to  get  away. 
My  father  being  overseer,  I  was  not  used  so  badly  as 
some  even  younger  than  myself,  who  were  kicked,  cuffed, 
and  whipped  very  badly  for  little  or  nothing.  We 
start(;d  away  at  night,  on  the  12th  of  August,  1824. 
After  we  had  crossed  the  river,  alarm  was  given,  and  ^ 
my  father  came  down  where  we  had  crossed,  and  called 
to  me  to  come  back.  I  had  not  told  my  intention  to 
either  my  father  or  mother.  .1  made  no  answer  at  all, 
but  we  walked  three  miles  back  from  the  river,  where 
we  lay  concealed  in  the  woods  four  days.  The  nights 
we  passed  at  the  house  of  a  white  friend ;  a  friend  in- 
deed. We  set  out  on  a  Monday  night,  and  on  the  night 
following,  seven  more  of  my  fellow-servants  started  on 
the  same  race.  They  were  overtaken  on  Wednesday 
night,  while  they  were  in  a  house  on  the  Ohio  side. 
One  jumped  from  a  window  and  broke  his  arm  ;  he 
stayed  in  the  woods  some  days,  and  then  he  returned. 
The  other  six,  two  women  and  four  children,  were  car- 
ried back,  and  the  man  we  stopped  with  told  us  that 


I 


i 


,) 


r    'if 

I 'I 


I 


'1  ^1 


'! 


20 


i. 


?'i     I II 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


.1 


the  two  women  were  whipped  to  make  them  tell  where 
we  were,  so  they  could  come  upon  us.  They  told  their 
master  as  near  as  they  could.  On  Thursday  five  white 
men  came  to  the  house  where  we  had  been  concealed, 
but  we  were  then  in  the  woods  and  mountains,  three 
miles  from  the  friend's  house.  Every  evening,  between 
three  and  four  o'clock,  he  would  come  and  bring  us 
food.  We  had  nothing  to  give  him  —  it  was  the  hand 
of  Divine  Providence  made  him  do  it.  He  and  others 
on  the  river  see  so  much  abuse  of  colored  people  that 
they  pity  them,  and  so  are  ready  to  give  them  aid ;  at 
least  it  was  so  then.  He  told  the  white  men  he  knew 
nothing  about  us,  and  nothing  of  the  kind.  They 
searched  his  premises,  and  then  left,  believing  his  story. 
He  came  to  us  and  said,  "  Boys,  we  are  betrayed,  they 
are  coming  now  round  the  hill  after  us."  We  picked 
up  our  bundles  and  started  on  a  run ;  then  he  called  us 
back,  and  said  he  did  it  to  try  our  spunk.  He  then  told 
us  of  those  who  were  carried  back,  and  of  the  searching 
|»of  his  premises.  We  lodged  in  his  barn  that  night. 
On  the  morning  of  Friday,  he  took  us  twelve  miles  to 
a  place  where  the  woman  would  have  to  leave  her 
children,  because  he  could  conceal  her  better  without 
them.  He  pointed  out  a  house  occupied  by  a  family 
of  Methodists,  where  she  could  go  and  tell  them  she 
was  going  back,  and  so  leave  her  children  there.  But 
when  she  reached  the  house  the  father  and  mother  were 
absent,  so  she  went  at  a  venture  to  another  house.  As 
it  was  raining  and  dark,  she  was  guided  by  a  white  boy, 
a  stout  lad,  and  a  girl  with  a  lantern.  At  this  house, 
she  slept  on  a  pallet  on  the  floor ;  and  when  all  else 
were  asleep,  she  put  her  baby,  which  she  had  all  along 
kept  in  her  arms,  into  her  oldest  boy's  care,  crept  to  the 
door  and  went  out.     We  had  bidden  her  good-by,  not 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OF    SLAVERY. 


21 


ong 
the 
not 


expecting  to  see  her.  When  the  boy  and  girl  h\  3ome 
back  from  guiding  her,  I  heard  the  boy  say, "  Now  we 
shall  get  fifty  dollars  for  giving  her  up,  and  she  '11  get  a 
good  fleecing  into  the  bargain."  The  man  where  we 
had  stopped  intended  to  take  her  to  his  house  after  she 
had  got  rid  of  her  children,  and  when  opportunity  of- 
fered, send  her  to  Canada.  We  went  to  a  fire  which 
we  saw  burning  in  a  clearing,  and  Ben  slept  while  I 
kept  watch.  Presently  the  woman  came  towards  us. 
I  heard  the  cracking  of  sticks  as  she  came,  and  awoke 
Ben.  He  raised  a  sort  of  tomahawk  he  had  made, 
intending  to  strike  the  person  approaching,  supposing  it 
was  an  enemy.  Said  she,  "  Oh  Ben,  don  't  strike  me, 
it  is  I."  This  made  me  cry  to  think  Ben  was  so  near 
killing  the  woman.  Then  she  begged  i;is  not  to  leave 
her  until  the  man  should  come  to  find  her.  He  not 
coming  so  soon  as  we  expected,  we  all  steered  back 
the  twelve  miles  through  the  woods.  Towards  night, 
we  heard  his  cow-bells ;  we  drove  the  cattle  before  us, 
knowing  that  they  would  go  home.  Just  as  they  had 
guided  us  there,  the  man,  who  had  also  followed  the 
bells,  came  up.  He  told  us  that  the  children  had  been 
carried  back  to  their  master.  We  supposed  the  boy 
—  guide — had  betrayed  them,  but  do  not  know.  We 
stayed  in  his  barn  all  night,  and  left  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing, the  woman  remaining  behind. 

At  about  noon,  we  were  near  a  village.  He  pointed 
out  a  haystack,  where  we  were  to  rendezvous  at  night, 
to  meet  another  man  whom  our  friend  was  to  send  to 
take  us  further  along  on  our  way.  At  night  we  went 
to  the  haystack ;  a  road  ran  by  it.  Instead  of  keeping 
watch  by  the  stack,  we  were  so  jaded  that  we  crossed 
the  road  and  lay  down  to  rest  on  the  bare  ground,  where 
we  fell  asleep.     The  man,  as  we  afterwards  learned 


IT'"' I'M 

li 


I 


■\ 


22 


THE   REFUaKE;   OR   A 


from  him,  came  as  agreed  upon,  whistled  and  made 
signals,  but  failed  to  wake  us  up.  Thinking  we  had 
been  pursued  away,  he  went  back  without  us.  The 
next  morning,  when  we  awoke,  the  sun  was  rising  red, 
right  on  the  public  road.  We  saw  a  man  at  his  door 
some  two  hundred  yards  from  us.  I  went  to  ask  him 
how  the  roads  ran  ;  Harris  told  me  to  inquire  the  way 
to  Carr's  Run,  near  home,  so  we  would  go  the  contrary. 
By  the  time  I  got  back,  Ben,  who  had  watched,  saw 
the  man  leave  his  house  with  his' gun,  and  take  a  circle 
round  to  come  down  on  us ;  but  before  he  could  head 
us,  we  were  past  him  in  the  road  running.  We  ran 
and  walked  about  four  miles  barefoot;  then  wi*  took 
courage  to  put  on  our  shoes,  which  we  had  not  dared 
stop  long  enough  to  do  before,  for  fear  the  man  with 
the  fi^un  would  get  ahead  of  us. 

We  were  now  on  the  top  of  a  high  hill.  On  our 
right  was  a  path  leading  into  the  woods.  In  this  path 
we  descended,  and  after  walking  a  f;' ,7  minutes,  we  ar- 
rived at  a  house  by  the  main  road.  We  went  in  to 
ask  for  a  drink  of  buttermilk.  Only  the  woman  of  the 
house  was  at  home.  Said  she,  "  Boys,  you  are  the  very 
ones  my  husband  was  looking  for  last  night."  We  de- 
nied it,  being  right  on  the  road,  and  afraid.  She  insist- 
ed, "  for,"  said  she,  "  the  man  who  came  to  tell  my  hus- 
band, said  there  was  a  big  one  and  a  little  one."  I  was 
the  little  one.  She  gave  us  crackers,  cheese,  and  on- 
ions. Against  her  advice,  we  left  the  house  and  moved 
on.  Presently  we  came  to  a  toll-gate,  about  which 
there  were  standing  several  white  men.  We  walked 
up  boldly  to  the  gate ;  one  of  the  men  then  asked  us, 
"Where  are  you  going?"  Ben  answered,  "  We  are 
going  to  Chillicothe  to  see  our  friends  there."  Then  he 
made  answer  and  said,  "  You  can  't  go  any  further,  you 


iti 


NOIITU-SIDE   VIEW   OF   SLAYEKY. 


23 


must  go  back  with  me,  you  are  the  very  boys  I  was 
looldng  for  last  night."  We  told  him  we  wanted  to  go 
on,  but  lie  said,  "  There  are  so  many  buckskin  Yankees 
in  tlicfse  |)arts  that  you  will  be  taken  before  you  get 
half  through  the  town."  We  then  went  back  to  his 
house,  but  we  did  not  atop  more  than  ten  minutes,  be- 
cause it  would  be  dangerous  for  him  as  well  as  for  ua 
if  we  were  caught  on  his  premises.  He  stuck  up  a 
pole  close  to  his  house  and  tied  a  white  cloth  on  it ; 
then  he  led  us  up  to  the  top  of  the  hill  (this  was  Mon- 
day, quite  early  in  the  morning),  and  showed  us  a 
rough  place  of  bushes  and  rocks  where  we  could  lie 
concealed  quite  pleasantly,  and  so  high  up  that  we 
could  see  the  main  road,  and  the  toll-gate,  and  the  house, 
and  the  white  flag.  Said  he,  "  If  there 's  any  danger, 
I  '11  send  a  child  out  to  throw  down  the  white  flag ;  and 
if  you  get  scared  away  from  here,  come  back  at  night 
and  I  '11  protect  you."  Soon  after  he  left  us,  we  saw 
five  white  men  come  to  his  house  on  horseback ;  they 
were  the  five  who  had  carried  back  the  others  that  tried 
to  escape.  Two  of  them  went  into  the  house ;  then  we 
saw  a  little  girl  come  out  and  climb  up  on  the  fence, 
as  if  she  were  playing  about,  and  she  knocked  down 
the  flag-pole,  —  which  meant  that  we  were  to  look  out 
for  ourselves.  But  we  did  not  feel  that  there  was  any 
immediate  danger,  and  so  we  kept  close  under  cover. 
Pretty  soon  the  two  came  out  of  the  house,  and  they  all 
rode  forward  very  fast,  passed  the  toll-gate,  and  were 
soon  out  of  sight.  I  supi)ose  they  thought  to  overtake 
us  every  minute,  but  luckily  I  have  never  seen  them 
since.  In  the  evening  the  man  came  and  conducted  us 
to  his  house,  where  w^e  found  the  men  we  had  seen  at 
the  toll-gate  in  the  morning.  They  were  mostly  armed 
with  pistols  and  guns.     They  guided  us  to  a  solitary 


i       t 


^1 


I     1^' 

'..       tit. 


',^i 


ffe; 
-li-i 


r¥. 


24 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


\ 


n 


houso  three  tuilca  back  among  the  mountains,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  which  we  remained  three  days.  We 
were  told  to  go  up  on  the  mountain  very  high,  where 
was  an  Indian  cave  in  tiie  rocks.  From  this  cave  wc 
could  look  a  great  distance  around  and  see  people,  and 
we  felt  afraid  they  would  see  us.  So  instead  of  stay- 
ing there,  we  went  down  the  mountain  to  a  creek  where 
trees  had  been  cut  down  and  branches  thrown  over  the 
bank ;  we  went  under  the  branches  and  bushes  where 
the  sand  was  dry,  and  there  we  would  sit  all  day.  We 
all  the  time  talked  to  each  other  about  how  we  would 
get  away,  and  what  we  should  do  if  the  white  folks 
tackled  us ;  that  was  all  our  discourse. 

We  stayed  there  until  Friday,  when  our  friends  gave 
us  knapsacks  full  of  cakes  and  dried  venison,  and  a  little 
bundle  of  provision  besides,  and  flints  and  steel,  and 
spunk,  and  a  pocke;t-compass  to  travel  through  the  woods 
by.  We  knew  the  north-star,  but  did  not  travel  nights 
for  nearly  a  week.  So  on  Friday  morning  we  set  out, 
the  men  all  bidding  us  good-by,  and  the  man  of  the 
flag-staff  went  with  us  half  a  day  to  teach  us  the  use  of 
the  compass  ;  wc  had  never  seen  one  before.  Once  in 
a  while  he  would  put  it  on  a  log  to  show  us  how  to 
travel  by  it.  When  he  was  leaving  us,  he  took  his  knife 
and  marked  on  the  compass,  so  that  we  should  steer  a 
little  west  of  north. 

During  the  six  days  succeeding,  we  traversed  an  un- 
broken wilderness  of  hills  and  mountains,  seeing  neither 
man  nor  habitation.  At  night  we  made  a  fire  to  sit  by. 
We  saw  deer  on  our  way ;  we  were  not  annoyed  by 
wild  animals,  and  saw  but  one  snake,  a  garter-snake. 
The  first  sign  of  man  we  met  with  was  a  newly-made 
road ;  this  was  on  the  seventh  day  from  the  time  we 
left  the  house  in  the  mountains.     Our  provisions  held 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


85 


out  well,  and  we  had  found  water  enough.  After 
crossing  tho  road,  we  came  out  from  the  mountains  to 
a  level  cleared  place  of  farms  and  houses.  Then  we 
were  alVud,  and  put  ourselves  on  our  guard,  resolving 
to  travel  by  night.  We  laid  by  until  starlight,  then  we 
made  for  a  road  leading  to  the  north.  We  would  fol- 
low a  road  until  it  bent  away  from  the  north  ;  then  we 
would  leave  it  and  go  by  the  compass.  This  caused 
us  to  meet  many  rivers  and  streams  where  there  were 
no  bridges ;  some  we  could  wade  over,  and  some  we 
crossed  by  swimming.  After  reaching  the  clearings,  we 
scarcely  dared  build  a  fire.  Once  or  twice  we  took 
some  green  corn  from  the  fields,  and  made  a  brush  fire 
to  roast  it.  After  lighting  the  fire,  we  would  retire 
from  it,  as  far  almost  as  we  could  see  it,  and  then  watch 
whether  anybody  might  come  to  it.  When  the  fire 
had  gone  out,  the  corn  would  be  about  done. 

Our  feet  were  now  sore  with  long  travelling.  One 
night  we  came  to  a  river ;  it  was  rather  foggy,  but  I 
could  see  a  ferry-scow  on  the  other  side.  I  was  afraid 
of  alligators,  but  I  swam  o^^r,  and  poled  the  scow  back 
and  ferried  Ben  across,  —  his  ancle  was  so  sore,  that  he 
did  not  like  to  put  his  foot  in  the  water  if  he  could  help 
it.  We  soon  reached  an  old  stable  in  the  edge  of  a 
little  town ;  we  entered  it  and  slept  alternately  one 
keeping  watch,  as  we  always  managed  while  in  the 
neighborhood  of  settlements.  We  did  not  do  this  in 
the  wilderness,  —  there  we  slept  safely,  and  were  quite 
reconciled.  At  cock-crowing  in  the  morning  we  set  out 
and  went  into  the  woods,  which  were  very  near ;  there 
we  stayed  through  the  day. 

At  night  we  started  on  and  presently  came  into  a 
road  running  north-west.  Coming  to  a  vine  patch  we 
filled  our  knapsacks  with  cucumbers;  we  then  met  a 

3 


■■\ 


I  ■■vs./i 


n!'  I'il 


li !  I  i 


26 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


white  man,  who  asked  us,  "  Which  way  are  you  trav- 
elling ?  "  My  cousin  told  him  "  To  Cleveland,  to  help 
a  man  drive  a  drove  of  cattle."  He  then  said,  "  I  know 
you  must  be  runaways,  —  but  you  needn't  be  afraid  of 
me,  —  I  don't  want  to  hurt  you."  He  then  told  us 
something  that  we  knew  before  — '  that  the  last  spring 
five  fugitives  were  overtaken  at  his  house  by  my  master 
and  two  other  men  ;  that  the  fugitives  took  through  his 
wheat-field,  —  one  of  them,  a  little  fellow,  could  not 
run  so  fast  as  the  rest,  and  master  called  to  him  to  stop, 
or  he  'd  shoot  him.  His  answer  was,  "  shoot  and  bo 
d — d ! "  The  man  further  told  us,  that  he  took  through 
the  wheat-field  as  if  he  would  assist  in  catching  the 
slaves,  but  that  when  he  got  near  enough,  he  told  them 
to  "  push  on  ! "  Ben  and  1  knew  about  the  pursuit, 
and  what  the  little  fellow  had  said ;  for  it  got  round 
among  the  servants,  after  master  got  back.  That  little 
fellow's  widow  is  now  my  wife.  We  went  to  the  man'a^ 
house,  and  partook  of  a  good  luncheon.  He  told  us  to 
hurry,  and  try  to  get  through  Newark  before  daylight. 
We  hurried  accordingly,  bull  it  was  daybreak  when  we 
crossed  the  bridge.  We  found  the  little  toll-gate  open 
and  we  went  through  —  there  were  lights  in  a  tavern 
window  at  the  left  of  the  gate,  and  the  windows  had 
no  curtains.  Just  as  we  were  stepping  off  the  bridge, 
a  plank  rattled,  —  then  up  started  after  us  a  little  black 
dog,  making  a  great  noise.  We  walked  smartly  along, 
but  did  not  run  until  we  came  to  a  street  leading  to  the 
right, — then  we  ran  fast  until  we  came  to  a  left  hand 
turn,  which  led  to*  the  main  road  at  the  other  side  of 
the  town.  Before  sunrise,  we  hid  in  a  thicket  of  briars, 
close  by  the  road,  where  we  lay  ail  day,  seeing  the 
teams,  and  every  thing  that  passed  by. 

At  dark  we  went  on  again,  passed  through  Mount 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OF  SLAVERY. 


27 


Vernon  in  the  night,  and  kejjt  on  until  daylight  Again 
we  halted  in  concealment  until  night,  then  we  went  on 
again  through  Wooster.  After  leaving  Wooster,  we 
saw  no  more  settlements,  except  one  little  village,  which 
we  passed  through  in  broad  day.  We  entered  a  store 
here,  but  were  asked  no  questions.  Here  we  learned 
the  way  to  Cleveland.  In  the  middle  of  the  afternoon 
we  stopped  for  a  little  rest.  Just  before  night  we 
moved  forward  again  and  travelled  all  night.  We  then 
stopped  to  rest  until  four  in  the  afternoon,  meanwhile 
roasting  some  corn  as  before.  At  about  four,  we  met 
a  preacher,  who  was  just  come  from  Cleveland.  He 
asked  us  if  we  were  making  our  escape,  —  we  told  him 
"  No."  He  said,  "  You  need  not  be  afraid  of  me,  —  I 
am  the  friend  of  all  who  travel  from  the  South  to  the 
North."  He  told  us  not  to  go  into  Cleveland,  as  we 
would  be  taken  up."  He  then  described  a  house  which 
was  on  our  way,  where,  he  said,  we  might  mention  our 
meeting  him,  and  we  would  find  friends  who  would 
put  us  on  board  a  boat.  We  hid  until  dark,  —  then  we 
went  to  the  house,  which  we  recognized  readily  from 
the  preacher's  description.  We  knocked  at  the  door, 
and  were  invited  in.  My  cousin  told  them  what  the 
minister  had  said.  The  man  of  the  house  hid  us  in 
his  barn  two  nights  and  three  days.  He  was  a  shoe- 
maker. The  next  night  after  we  got  there,  he  went  to 
Cleveland  himself  to  get  a  berth  for  us  aboard  some 
boat  for  Canada.  When  he  returned,  he  said  he  had 
found  a  passage  for  us  with  Capt.  B.,  who  was  to  sail 
the  next  Thursday  at  10,  p.  m.  At  tlfat  hour  we  em- 
barked, having  a  free  passage  in  a  schooner  for  Buffalo. 
On  board  this  boat,  we  met  with  an  Englishman  v/hom 
we  had  often  seen  on  a  steamboat  at  the  plantation. 
He  knew  us,  and  told  us  a  reward  of  one  hundred  dollars 


I 


i\ 

mi 

i 


■fi 


-f^i 


m 


u 


28 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


!      i 


was  offered  for  each  of  us,  and  he  showed  us  several 
handbills  to  that  effect.  He  said  they  had  been  given 
him  to  put  up  along  the  road,  but  he  had  preferred  to 
keep  them  in  his  pocket.  Capt.  B.  took  away  our 
knives  and  Ben's  tomahawk,  for  fear  of  mischief. 

We  reached  Buffalo  at  4,  p.  m.  The  captain  said, 
that  if  there  was  any  danger  in  the  town,  he  would 
take  us  in  his  yawl  and  put  us  across.  He  walked 
through  the  town  to  see  if  there  were  any  bills  up. 
Finding  no  danger,  he  took  us  out  of  the  hatchway,  — 
he  walked  with  us  as  far  as  Black  Rock  Ferry,  giving 
us  good  advice  all  the  way,  how  we  should  conduct 
ourselves  through  life  in  Canada,  and  we  have  never 
departed  from  his  directions,  —  his  counsel  was  good, 
and  I  have  kept  it.  "    '     - 

'  I  am  now  buying  this  place.  My  family  are  with 
me, — we  live  well,  and  enjoy  ourselves.  I  worship  in 
the  Methodist  church.  What  religious  instruction  I 
received  on  plantation,  was  from  my  mother. 

I  look  upon  slavery  as  the  most  disgusting  system  a 
man  can  live  under.  I  would  not  be  a  slave  again, 
except  that  I  could  not  put  an  end  to  my  own  existence, 
through  fear  of  the  punishment  of  the  future. 

Men  who  have  never  seen  or  felt  slavery  cannot 
realize  it  for  the  thikig  it  is.  If  those  who  say  that 
fugitives  had  better  go  back,  were  to  go  to  the  South 
and  see  slavery,  they  would  never  wish  any  slave  to  go 
back. 

I  have  seen  separations  by  sales,  of  husbands  from 
wives,  of  parents  from  children,  —  if  a  man  threatens 
to  run  away,  he  is  sure  to  be  sold.  Ben's  mother  was 
sold  down  Souths — to  New  Orleans  —  when  he  was 

about  t.wpnf.v  vpnrs  nlrl. 
J   J 

I  arrived  in  Canada  on  the  13th  September,  1824. 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OF   SLAVERY. 


29 


WILLIAM  JOHNSON. 


I  look  upon  slavery  as  I  do  upon  a  deadly  poison. 
The  slaves  sre  not  contented  nor  happy  in  their  lot. 
Neither  on  the  farm  where  I  was  in  Virginia,  nor  in  the 
neighborhood  were  the  slaves  satisfied.  The  man  I 
belonged  to  did  not  give  us  enough  to  eat.  My  feet 
were  frostbitten  on  my  way  North,  but  I  would  rather 
have  died  on  the  way  than  to  go  back. 

It  would  not  do  to  stop  at  all  about  our  work,  —  if 
the  people  should  try  to  get  a  little  rest,  there  would  be 
a  cracking  spell  amongst  them.  I  have  had  to  go 
through  a  great  deal  of  affliction;  I  have  been  com- 
pelled to  work  when  I  was  sick.  I  used  to  have  rheu- 
matism, and  could  not  always  do  so  much  work  as 
those  who  were  well,  —  then  I  would  sometimes  be 
whipped  I  have  never  seen  a  runaway  that  wanted  to 
go  back,  —  I  have  never  heard  of  one. 

I  knew  a  very  smart  young  man  —  he  was  a  fellow- 
servant  of  mine,  who  had  recently  professed  religion  — 
who  was  tied  up  by  a  quick-tempered  overseer,  and 
whipped  terribly.  He  died  not  long  after,  and  the  peo- 
ple there  believed  it  was  because  of  the  whipping.  Some 
of  the  slaves  told  the  owner,  but  he  did  not  discharge 
the  overseer.  He  will  have  to  meet  it  at  the  day  of 
judgment.  '-■'^••'^'^■■?^■.H^^-i-;^--■>*^-'...,  ..    '',^-'-;-^; 

I  had  grown  up  quite  large,  before  I  thought  any 
thing  about  liberty.  The  fear  of  being  sold  South  had 
moro  influence  in  inducing  me  to  leave  than  any  other 
thir.g.  Master  used  to  say,  that  if  we  didn't  suit  him, 
he  would  put  us  in  his  pocket  quick  —  meaning  he 
wouJd  sell  us.  He  never  gave  me  a 
life,  —  he  said  he  knew  he  ought  jto 


„4. -l.   i. 


Ilia 


■     n 


M 


if!3^ 


S  I 


\'M\l 


30 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


couldn't  get  ahead  far  enough.  His  son  had  a  child  by 
a  colored  woman,  and  he  would  have  sold  it  —  his  own 
grandchild  —  if  the  other  folks  had  n't  opposed  it. 

I  have  found  good  friends  in  Canada,  but  have  been 
able  to  do  no  work  on  account  of  my  frozen  feet,  —  I 
lost  two  toes  from  my  right  foot.  My  determination  is 
to  go  to  work  as  soon  as  I  am  able.  I  have  been  about 
among  the  colored  people  in  St.  Catharines  consider- 
ably, and  have  found  them  industrious  and  frugal.  No 
person  has  offered  me  any  liquor  since  I  have  been 
here :  I  have  seen  no  colored  person  use  it.  I  have 
been  trying  to  learn  to  read  since  I  came  here,  and  I 
know  a  great  many  fugitives  who  are  trying  to  learn. 


\ 


HARRIET  TUBMAN. 

It 

I  grew  up  like  a  neglected  weed,  —  ignorant  of  lib- 
erty, having  no  experience  of  it.  Then  I  was  not  happy 
or  contented :  every  time  I  saw  a  white  man  I  was 
afraid  of  being  carried  away.  I  had  two  sisters  carried 
away  in  a  chain-gang,  —  one  of  them  left  two  children. 
We  were  always  uneasy.  Now  I've  been  free,  I  know 
what  a  dreadful  condition  slavery  is.  I  have  seen  hun- 
dreds of  escaped  slaves,  but  I  never  saw  one  who  was 
willing  to  go  back  and  be  a  slave.  I  have  no  oppor- 
tunity to  see  my  friends  in  my  native  land.  We  would 
rather  stay  in  our  native  land,  if  we  could  be  as  free 
there  as  we  are  here.  I  think  slavery  is  the  next  thing 
to  hell.  If  a  person  would  send  another  into  bondage, 
he  would,  it  appears  to  me,  be  bad  enough  to  send  him 

i^^.^  u„ii    :r  u_ ij  '-  "  -!.■..■■■?;-; -■■•^;if,■>,- 

XUIXJ    llCll,   Al     UC   UV'UIU.  ' 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


31 


MRS. . 

[The  lady  who  gave  the  following  narrative  wished  to  withhold  her 
name,  for  private  reasons.  She  is  well  known  at  St.  Catharines  as  a 
very  intelligent  and  respectable  person.]  ,    /. 

I  was  held  as  a  slave  in  ,  without  even  legal 

right  according  to  the  slave  laws.  When  I  was  ten 
years  old,  a  young  man  was  punishing  me  —  I  resisted : 
I  was  in  consequence  called  "  a  rebellious  wretch,"  and 
put  out  of  the  family.  At  the  place  where  I  was  hired, 
it  happened  on  communion  Sunday  in  March,  that  the 
dogs  got  hold  of  a  pig,  and  bit  a  piece  off  its  ear.  In 
consequence  of  this  misfortune  to  the  pig,  a  boy  of 
sixteen  years,  or  thereabouts,  was  whipped  in  the  barn ; 
and  a  man-slave  was  tied  up  to  a  tree,  with  his  arms 
extended,  and  whipped.  I  was  peeping  and  saw  the 
man  whipped.  The  blood  ran  as  they  whipped  him. 
His  wife  had  to  take  care  of  him  and  dress  his  wounds. 
It  affected  me  so  that  I  cried  and  said  I  would  n't  stay 
at  the  place,  —  then  the  same  man  —  the  man  of  the 
house  —  whipped  me.  At  twelve  o'clock  that  night,  I 
ran  away  to  my  owners.  He  came  to  the  folks  where 
I  was,  and  requested  them  to  send  me  back,  lest  the 
others  should  follow  my  example.  I  went  back  and 
stayed  two  weeks,  —  when  I  had  got  within  a  mile  of 
home,  my  master  got  on  his  horse,  and  trotted  along 
behind  me,  to  let  folks  see  that  he  had  got  the  runaway. 

After  my  escape  from  slavery,  I  married  a  free  colored 
man.  We  were  comfortably  settled  in  the  States,  and 
were  broken  up  by  the  fugitive  slave  law,  —  compelled 
to  leave  our  home  and  friends,  and  to  go.  at  later  than 
middle  life  into  a  foreign  country  among  strangers. 

I  look  upon  slavery  as  the  worst  evil  that  ever  was. 


'  \M 


32 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


My  life  !:as  been  taken  from  me  in  a  measure  by  it.  If 
any  are  disposed  to  apologize  for  slavery,  it  would  be 
well  for  them  to  try  it  awhile. 


U:.-' 


P 


i'       ill] 


REV.  ALEXANDER  HEMSLEY. 


[The  famous  decision  of  Ji  ..Ige  Hornblower,  of  New  Jersey,  some 
years  ago,  in  a  case  of  a  fugitive,  will  doubtless  bo  recollected  by  many 
readers.  The  narrative  subjoined  was  given  by  the  individual  more 
immediately  interested  in  that  decision.  Mr.  Hemsley  is  confined  to 
his  bed  a  great  part  of  the  time  by  dropsy.  He  is  a  very  intelligent 
man,  and  his  face  wears,  notwithstanding  his  many  trials  and  his  sick- 
ness, a  remarkable  expression  of  cheerfulness  and  good-will.  His 
dwelling  is  clean  and  nice,  and  he  is  well  nursed  and  cared  for  by 
Mrs.  Hemsley,  a  sensible,  painstaking  woman,  the  \ery  impersonation 
of  neatness.  As  it  does  not  appear  in  the  narrative,  it  may  properly 
be  stated  here,  that  Mr.  Hemsley  has  lost  two  childrea  by  death,  since 
his  removal  to  St.  Catharines ;  their  sickness,  alluded  to  in  the  narra- 
tive, extending  through  three  consecutive  years.  If  any  capitalist  is 
looking  about  him  for  an  opportunity  to  invest,  I  think  he  might  prof- 
itably employ  two  hundred  dollars  in  lifting  the  mortgage  from  Hems- 
ley's  house  and  garden.  Rev.  Hiram  Wilson  of  St.  C.  who  has 
managed  to  keep  himself  free  from  the  care  of  riches,  by  giving  to 
the  needy,  as  fast  as  he  earned  it,  every  thing  which  he  might  have 
called  his  own,  will  be  happy,  without  doubt,  to  attend  to  the  business 
without  fee  or  commission.  Apropos,  of  Mr.  Wilson,  —  we  know 
"  there  is  that  scattereth,  and  yet  increaseth."  But  in  Mr.  W.'s  case, 
it  requires  but  little  financij*'  skill  to  perceive,  that  while  "  scattering" 
to  relieve  the  sick  and  suffering,  —  the  fugitive  and  the  oppressed,  — 
to  an  extent  sometimes  fully  up  to  the  means  in  his  hands,  any  "  in- 
crease" must  come  from  those  who  may  feel  disposed  to  let  their 
means  assist  his  abundant  opportunities  of  benevolent  action.  But  to 
the  narrative.] 

I  was  in  bondage  in  Queen  Anne  County,  Maryland, 
from  b'rth  until  twenty-three  years  of  age.  My  name 
in  slavery  was  Nathan  Mf  ad.     My  master  was  a  pro- 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


33 


fessor  of  religion,  and  used  to  instruct  me  in  a  hypo- 
critical way  in  the  duties  of  religion.  I  used  to  go  to 
church  on  Sunday  to  hear  him  talk,  and  experience  the 
contrary  on  Monday.  On  the  Sabbath  he  used  to  cate- 
chize us,  and  tell  us  if  we  were  good  honest  boys,  and 
obedient  to  our  master,  we  should  enjoy  the  life  that 
now  is,  and  that  which  is  to  come. 

My  idea  of  freedom  during  my  youth  was,  that  it 
was  a  state  of  liberty  for  the  mind,  —  that  there  was  a 
freedom  of  thcight,  which  I  could  not  enjoy  unless  I 
were  free,  —  that  is,  if  I  thought  of  any  thing  beneficial 
for  me,  I  should  have  liberty  to  execute  it.  My  escape 
was  not  owing  to  any  sudden  impulse  or  fear  of  pres- 
ent punishment,  but  from  a  natural  wish  to  be  free: 
and  had  it  not  been  for  near  and  dear  friends,  I  should 
not  have  remained  in  slavery  so  long.  I  had  an  uncle 
who  was  a  preacher.  He  had  a  good  many  boys.  I 
confided  to  him  that  I  wanted  to  leave,  and  would  like 
to  have  his  boys  accompany  me.  He  said  he  would 
not  dare  to  tell  his  boys,  for  if  we  were  to  undertake  it, 
and  get  caught,  it  would  ruin  us  all.  The  fear  of  being 
caught  was  then,  I  think,  a  greater  restraint  than  it  is 
now.  Now  there  is  a  different  spirit  in  the  slaves,  and 
if  they  undertake  to  escape,  it  is  with  a  feeling  of  vic- 
tory or  death,  —  they  determine  not  to  be  taken  alive, 
if  possible  to  prevent  it  even  by  bloodshed. 

I  was  accustomed  to  leave  home  every  Saturday 
night  to  visit  friends  seven  miles  inland,  and  to  return 
on  Sunday  night.  One  Sunday  night  when  I  had  got 
back  from  my  visit,  I  took  leave  of  my  friends,  they 
not  knowing  what  I  intended,  as  I  had  often  told  them 
on  the  Saturday  nights,  in  the  same  way,  that  I  never 
expected  to  see  them  again.  After  I  bade  them  fare- 
well, I  started  for  New  Jersey,  wliere,  I  had  been  told) 


/ 


i.'ti] 
I 


■  M'j 


t  <ll        ll'll 


i 
I 

ii 


\\ 


llii  III 


84 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


people  were  free,  and  nobody  would  disturb  me.  I 
went  six  miles,  and  then  ambushed.  On  Monday  night, 
I  went  thirty-three  miles,  and  found  a  good  old  Quaker 
—  one  [we  omit  the  name,  but  it  will  be  published  one 
day]  —  with  whom  I  stayed  three  weeks.  At  the  expi- 
ration of  which  time,  I  went  to  Philadelphia.  I  made 
no  tarry  there,  but  went  straight  over  into  New  Jersey. 
After  a  stay  of  two  months  at  Cooper's  Creek,  I  went 
to  Evesham,  where  I  resided  eight  or  nine  years,  being 
hired  and  getting  my  money.  No  one  disturbed  me 
all  this  time.  I  heard  that  I  had  been  pursued  by  the 
son  of  my  master,  but  that  not  hearing  from  me  he 
went  back.  I  then  received  favorable  offers  to  go  to 
Northampton,  and  I  removed  there,  taking  with  me  my  V 
wife  whom  I  had  married  at  Evesham,  and  my  three 
children.  At  Northampton  I  remained  unmolested  un- 
til October,  1836;  Then  some  four  or  five  southerners, 
neither  of  whom  had  cny  legal  claim  upon  me,  having 
found  out  that  I  harl  escaped  from  bondage,  went  to 
the  executor  of  my  old  master's  estate  (my  master  hav- 
ing been  dead  six  or  seven  years)  and  bought  me  run- 
ning,—  that  is,  they  paid  some  small  sum  for  a  title  to 
me,  so  as  to  make  a  spec,  out  of  poor  me.  To  make 
sure  of  the  matter,  they  came  about  my  house,  pretend- 
ing to  be  gunning,  —  meanwhile  looking  after  my  chil- 
dren, and  appraising  their  value  in  case  they  could  get 
them.  This  I  know,  for  they  promised  a  lawyer  my 
oldest  son,  if  he  would  gain  the  case.*  They  hung 
round  my  house  from  Wednesday  to  Saturday  morn- 
ing, when,  while  it  was  yet  dark,  they  surrounded  my 

*  Mrs.  H.  was  from  Caroline  Co.,  Md.  Her  parents  were  made 
free  "  by  word  of  mouth,"  —  but  as  her  mother  had  no  free  papers,  — 
it  was  feared  that  the  daughter  might  be  enslaved.  She*  was  enabled 
to  avoid  the  danger  by  emigration.    ^   ^         ,  *'^ 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OF  SLAVERY. 


35 


house.  It  was  my  usual  way  to  open  the  door,  put 
my  shoes  on,  and  go  off*  to  work.  Just  as  I  opened  the 
door  that  morning,  an  officer  of  the  town  followed  the 
door  right  in,  put  his  hand  on  me,  and  said,  "  You  are 
my  prisoner  !  "  I  asked  him'"  what  he  meant  by  that?  " 
He  said  he  had  received  a  writ  to  bring  me  before  the 
court  of  common  pleas.  I  told  him  "  I  have  no  master, 
but  I  will  go  with  you."  I  sat  down  to  put  on  my 
shoes, — then  the  five  southerners  flung  themselves  upon 
me  and  put  me  in  irons.  Then  one  of  them  pretended 
to  be  a  great  friend  to  me.  "  Now,"  said  he,  "  if  you 
have  any  friends,  tell  me  who  they  are,  and  I  '11  go  for 
them."  I  showed  him  the  house  where  my  employer 
lived,  and  told  him  to  step  up  there,  and  ask  him  to 
come  to  me  immediately.  He  came,  and  commenced 
reproving  the  constable  for  being  in  so  low  business  as 
to  be  arresting  slaves  for  slave-hunters.  "  Poor  busi- 
ness ! "  said  he.  I  told  him  I  was  afraid  they  were 
going  to  smuggle  me  off",  without  taking  me  before  the 
judge.  The  constable  then,  at  his  request,  pledged  his 
honor,  to  take  me  safe  to  the  court  at  Mount  Holly. 
They  put  me  in  a  carriage,  handcuffed,  between  two 
armed  men  of  the  party.  One  of  these  had  been  a  boy 
with  whom  I  had  played  in  my  young  days  in  Mary- 
land. He  w^as  there  to  swear  to  my  identity.  On  the 
way,  he  tried  to  "  soft  soap  "  me,  so  as  to  get  some  evi- 
dence to  convict  me,  when  we  got  before  the  judge. 
But  I  made  strange  of  him  and  of  every  thing  he  said, 
—  I  would  n't  know  him  nor  any  of  his  blarney.  At 
Mount  Holly,  the  judge  told  me,  that  it  was  alleged 
that  I  had  escaped  from  the  service  of  Mr.  Isaac  Baggs 
of  Maryland,  —  and  that,  if  that  were  proved  I  might 
be  sure  that  I  would  be  sent  back.  The  judge  being  a 
Virginia  born  man,  brought  up  in 


.     "'  I 


was 


i 


iMi 


\\ 


U 


86 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


found,  like  the  handle  of  a  jug,  all  on  one  side,  and  that 
side  against  me.  The  friends  employed  counsel  for  me, 
and  by  the  efforts  of  my  counsel,  the  trial  was  put  off 
to  Monday.  On  Monday,  the  case  was  called,  and  the 
other  side  had  an  adjournment  of  a  week,  in  order  to 
get  an  additional  witness.  I  was  imprisoned  during 
the  week.  A  brother  of  the  former  witness  was  then 
brought  forward  —  one  whom  I  had  known  when  a 
boy.  The  two  brothers,  who  were  both  mean  fellows, 
as  they  appeared  against  me  to  get  money,  swore  to 
my  identity,  and  that  they  knew  me  to  have  been  the 
slave  of  Isaac  Baggs.  My  counsel  were  David  Paul 
Brown,  John  R.  Slack,  George  Campbell,  and  Elias  B. 
Cannon.  The  trial  was  not  concluded  until  the  lapse 
of  three  weeks.  Then  the  judge  decided,  that  my  wife 
was  a  free-woman  and  might  remain  with  her  children, 
— "  but  as  for  you,  Alexander  or  Nathan,  the  case  is 
clear  that  you  were  the  slave  of  Isaac  Baggs,  and  you 
must  go  back." 

Then  Mr.  John  R.  Slack  went  up  to  the  judge,  and 
laid  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  before  him.  The  judge 
looked  it  over  in  quick  time  —  his  color  came  and  went 
tremendously.  He  answered  in  a  low  tone  of  voice, 
"  I  think  you  might  have  told  me  that  you  had  that 
before."  The  lawyer  answered,  "  We  thought  it  would 
be  time  enough,  after  seeing  how  far  your  Honor  would 
go."  A  good  old  friend  —  one  Thomas  Shipleigh  — 
had  ridden  forty  miles  to  get  that  writ.  On  the  next 
day  the  sheriff  took  me  before  Judge  Hornblower ;  two 
of  my  counsel  went  also,  and  one  of  the  other  party. 
My  oppressor  planned  to  take  me  out  of  New  Jersey  on 
the  route,  as  if  we  left  the  State,  Judge  Heywood's 
certificate  would  take  effect.  Our  party,  however, 
were  wide  awake,  and  kept  within  N.  J.,  but  they  pre- 


II 1 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


ii7 


pared  bull-dogs  (pistols)  in  case  any  attempt  were  made 
at  carrying  me  off.  When  we  arrived  at  the  court,  Mr. 
Brainard  Clark,  my  claimant's  lawyer,  in  the  course  of 
his  argument,  stated  what  great  expense  the  claimants 
had  been  to  for  jail  fees,  &c.,  "  even  seventy  dollars." 
Judge  H.  answered,  "If  it  had  been  seven  times 
seventy,  it  would  create  no  sympathy  in  me  for  them, — 
we  can't  expect  to  pass  away  human  liberty  for  a  mere 
trifle,"  —  or  words  to  that  effect.  It  was  concluded  that 
I  should  be  given  into  the  custody  of  the  sheriff  until 
February  term,  —  then  to  be  brought  before  the  su- 
preme court  at  Trenton.  -  '*  ^  •- 

I  remained  in  jail  until  the  February  term,  about 
three  months,  as  comfortable  as  a  man  could  be,  im- 
prisoned, and  with  the  awful  doom  of  slavery  hanging 
over  his  head.  The  case  was  then  taken  up  by  Hon. 
Theodore  Frelinghuysen.  The  other  side  could  not 
meet  Frelinghuy  en's  argument.  In  about  three  weeks 
the  court  declared  me  a  free  man.  I  was  then  let  out 
of  jail ;  but  as  I  had  become  so  well  known,  my  friends 
were  afraid  that  my  claimants  would  waylay  and  smug- 
gle me,  and  thought  I  Lad  better  leave  for  the  North, 
which  I  did.  I  travelled  some  two  hundred  miles,  most 
of  the  way  on  foot  into  Otsego  county,  N.  Y.,  where  I 
gave  out  through  fatigue.  I  was  sick  when  I  got  there. 
Here  I  was  joined  by  my  wife  and  children.  I  re- 
mained here  until  navigation  opened,  —  we  were  forty 
miles  from  the  canal  at  Utica.  Then,  from  visions  of 
the  night,  I  concluded  that  1  was  on  dangerous  ground, 
and  I  removed  with  my  family  to  Farmington.  Years 
before  I  had  had  visions  of  the  road  I  was  to  travel, 
and  if  I  had  obeyed  the  visions,  the  trouble  would  not 
have  occurred.  I  had  dreamed  of  being  pursued,  and 
that  they  had  caught  me.  and  so  it  turned  oat. 


'  ii 


V  i'UXIl 


I 


M 


iiliil  ? 


\  ^ 


38 


THE  hefuqee;  on  a 


Farmington,  I  went  on  directly  to  Rochester,  where 
I  remained  but  one  night.  My  health  was  good, 
with  the  exception  of  my  cycB,  wiiicii  were  dim  of  sight 
and  inflamed,  owing  to  the  change  from  imprirfonment 
to  exposure  to  pelting  storms  of  rain  and  snow.  I  felt 
that  my  persecutors  who  brought  this  trouble  on  me 
were  actuated  by  a  demonlike  principle.  We  em- 
barked from  Rochester,  on  board  a  British  boat,  The 
Traveller,  for  Toronto.  <      -  ^    v»jr:v 

When  I  reached  English  territory,  I  had  a  comfort  in 
the  law,  —  that  my  shackles  were  struck  off,  and  that  a 
man  was  a  man  by  law.  I  had  been  in  comfortable 
circumstances,  but  all  my  little  property  was  laived 
away.  I  was  among  strangers,  poverty-stricken,  and  in 
a  cold  country.  I  had  been  used  to  farming,  and  so  ■ 
could  not  find  in  the  city  such  assistance  as  I  needed : 
in  a  few  days,  I  left  for  St.  Catharines,  where  I  have 
ever  since  remained. 

My  master  did  not  use  to  do  much  at  buying  and 
selling,  but  there  was  a  great  deal  of  it  in  his  neighbor- 
hood. The  unwillingness  to  separate  of  husbands  and 
wives,  parents  and  children  was  so  great,  that  to  part 
them  seemed  to  me  a  sin  higher  than  the  heavens,  —  it 
was  dreadful  to  hear  their  outcries,  as  they  were  forced 
into  the  wagons  of  the  drivers.  Some  among  them 
have  their  minds  so  brutalized  by  the  action  of  slavery, 
that  they  do  not  feel  so  acutely  a^^  others,  the  pangs  of 
separation.  But  there  are  man\  who  feel  a  separation 
from  their  offspring  as  acutely  as  human  beings  can 
possibly  feel. 

Masters  sometimes  show  respect  toward  some  par- 
ticular persons  among  their  slaves.  I  was  never  an  eye- 
witness to  a  punishment  where  a  man  seemed  to  inflict 
it  in  any  spirit  of  kindness  or  mercy.     I  have  heard  of  a 


NORTO-SIDE   VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


39 


merciful  disposition  at  such  times,  but  never  witnessed 
it:  as  a  general  tiling  they  would  manifest  malignant, 
tyrannical  feeling.-'.  I  have  seen  a  woman  who  was  in 
state  of  pregnancy,  tied  up  and  punished  with  a  keen 
raw  hide. 

Contrasting  my  condition  here  with  what  it  was  in 
New  Jersey,  I  say,  that  for  years  after  I  came  here,  my 
mind  was  continually  reverting  to  my  native  land.  For 
some  ten  years,  I  was  in  hopes  thai:  something  might 
happen,  whereby  I  might  safely  return  to  my  old  home 
in  New  Jersey.  I  watched  the  newspapers  and  they 
told  the  story.  I  found  that  there  would  be  a  risk  in 
going  back, —  and  that  was  confirmed  by  many  of  my 
fellow  men  falling  into  the  same  catastrophe  that  I 
did,  —  and  the  same  things  happen  now. 

When  I  reached  St.  Catharines  I  was  enfeebled  in 
health.  I  had  come  to  a  small  inferior  place ;  there 
were  pines  growing  all  about  here  where  you  now  see 
brick  houses.  I  rented  a  house,  and  with  another  man 
took  five  acres  of  cleared  land,  and  got  along  with  it 
very  well.  We  did  not  get  enough  from  this  to  sup- 
port us;  but  I  got  \  oi'  at  half  a  dollar  or  sevenly-five 
cents  a  day  and  uoard  myself.  We  were  then  making 
both  ends  riufT.  I  then  made  up  my  mind  that  salt 
and  potatoes  in  Canada,  were  better  than  pound-cake 
and  chickens  in  a  state  of  suspense  and  anxiety  in  the 
United  States.  Now  I  am  a  regular  Britisher.  My 
American  blood  has  been  scourged  out  of  me ;  I  have 
lost  my  American  tastes ;  I  am  an  enemy  to  tyranny. 
I  would  as  lief  meet  serpents  as  some  people  I  know  of 
in  the  States.  If  I  were  to  meet  them,  my  fighting  pro- 
pensities would  come  up.  To  meet  one  here,  I  would 
not  mind  it ;  there  I  would  be  afraid  of  the  ghost  of  a 
white  man  after  he  was  dead.     I  am  no  scholar,  but  if 


'  m 


>i:DII|| 
is' 


ii:. 


f    ' 


S! 


m  m 

illlti 

III"'' 


40 


■\i 


THE  REFUQEE;   OB  A 


some  one  would  refine  't,  I  could  give  a  history  of 
slavery,  and  show  how  tyranny  operates  upon  the  mind 
of  the  slaves.  I  have  dreamed  of  being  back  on  my 
master's  farm,  and  of  dodging  away  from  my  master ; 
he  endeavoring  to  get  between  me  and  the  land  I  was 
aiming  for.  Then  I  would  awake  in  a  complete  per- 
spiration, and  troubled  in  mind.  Oh,  it  was  awful! 
When  you  go  back  home,  remember  poor  Joseph  in 
Egypt.        .  ^  ,  :'^ 

I  am  row  about  sixty  years  of  age,  and  have  been 
lying  sick  about  nine  months.  I  have  here  a  house  and 
a  quarter  acre  of  land.  I  have  had  a  deal  of  sickness 
in  my  family,  and  it  has  kept  me  comparatively  poor : 
it  would  take  two  hundred  dollars  to  clear  my  estate 
from  incumbrances.  Had  it  not  been  for  sickness,  it 
would  have  been  paid  for  long  ago. 

I  have  served  the  people  in  the  provinces  as  a  minis- 
ter in  the  Methodist  persuasion  for  some  twenty  years. 
My  pay  has  been  little,  for  our  people  all  start  poor, 
and  have  to  struggle  to  support  themselves.  My  mind 
has  ever  been  to  trust  the  Lord.  I  have  never  prayed 
for  wealth  nor  honor,  but  only  to  guide  his  church  and 
do  his  will. 


JOHN  SEWARD.  *      ; 

The  man  that  owned  me,  was  not  fit  to  own  a  dog. 
I  had  been  wanting  to  get  away  for  the  last  twenty 
years.  I  grieved  over  my  condition,  and  groaned  over 
it=  A  few  months  ago  I  succeeded  in  escaping.  After 
I  got  among  abolitionists,  I  was  almost  scared ;  they 
used  me  so  well,  I  was  afraid  of  a  trick.     I  had  been 


"^'i 


'<■■•-:- 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


41 


used  so  ill  before,  that  1  did  not  know  what  to  make  of 
it  to  be  used  decently.  -       -         '       ;^ 


) .  w* 


-h;  >. 


JAMES  SEWARD, 


BROTHER  OF   THE  FOREOOINO. 


Where  I  came  from,  it  would  make  your  flesh  creep, 
and  your  hair  stand  on  end,  to  know  what  they  do  to 
the  slaves. 

I  had  a  niece,  who  was  married  and  had  two  chil- 
dren ;  one  at  her  breast.  The  estate  being  in  debt,  I 
was  imprisoned.  Before  I  went  to  jail,  my  niece  was 
hired  out ;  then  her  owner  concluded  to  sell  her.  She 
was  taken  away  from  her  children,  handcufted,  and  put 
into  the  jail  where  I  was.  Her  irons  were  taken  off; 
she  was  in  great  grief,  crying  all  the  time,  "  Oh,  my 
children !  my  poor  children ! "  till  it  appeared  to  me, 
she  would  kill  herself  for  grief.  She  was  sold  and  car- 
ried away,  leaving  her  children  behind.  I  have  been  in 
Canada  but  a  short  time. 


MRS.  JAMES  SEWARD. 

The  slaves  want  to  get  away  bad  enough.  They  are 
not  contented  with  their  situation. 

I  am  from  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland.  I  never 
belonged  but  to  one  master ;  he  was  very  bad  indeed. 
I  was  never  sent  to  school,  nor  allowed  to  go  to  church. 
They  were  afraid  we  would  have  more  sense  than  they. 
I  have  a  father  there,  three  sisters,  and  a  brother.     My 

4* 


4 

it 

i! 


'A 


ill 


;J    i 


42 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


I 


ilMII      ! 


father  is  qtiite  an  old  man,  and  he  is  used  very  badly. 
Many  a  time  he  has  been  kept  at  work  a  whole  long 
summer  day  without  sufficient  food.  A  sister  of  mine 
has  been  punished  by  his  taking  away  her  clothes  and 
locking  them  up,  because  she  used  to  run  when  master 
whipped  her.  He  kept  her  at  work  with  only  what  she 
could  pick  up  to  tie  on  her  for  decency.  He  took 
away  her  child  which  had  just  begun  to  walk,  and  gave 
it  to  another  woman,  —  but  she  went  and  got  it  after- 
ward. He  had  a  large  farm  eight  miles  from  home. 
Four  servants  were  kept  at  the  house.  My  master 
could  not  manage  to  whip  my  sister  when  she  was 
strong.  He  waited  until  she  was  confined,  and  the 
second  week  after  her  confinement  he^  said,  "  Now  1 
can  handle  you,  now  you  are  weak."  She  ran  from 
him,  however,  and  had  to  go  through  water,  and  was 
sick  in  consequence. 

I  was  beaten  at  one  time  over  the  head  by  my  mas- 
ter, until  the  blood  ran  from  my  mouth  and  nose  :  then 
he  tied  me  up  in  the  garret,  with  my  hands  over  my 
head,  —  then  he  brought  me  down  and  put  me  in  a  lit- 
tle cupboard,  where  I  had  to  sit  cramped  up,  part  of  the 
evening,  all  night,  and  until  between  four  and  five 
o'clock,  next  day,  without  any  food.  The  cupboard, 
was  near  a  fire,  and  I  thought  I  should  suffocate. 

My  brother  was  whipped  on  one  occasion  until  his 
back  was  as  raw  as  a  piece  of  beef,  and  before  it  got 
well,  master  whipped  him  again.  His  back  was  an 
awful  sight.  ' '      ' 

We  were  all  afraid  of  master :  when  I  saw  him  com- 
ing, my  heart  would  jump  up  into  my  mouth,  as  if  I 
had  seen  a  seroent.  ''  ;?  v^v*  - 

I  have  been  wanting  to  come  away  for  eight  years 
back.     I  waited  for  Jim  Seward  to  get  ready.    Jim  had 


m^ 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


43 


promised  to  take  me  away  and  marry  me.  Our  master 
would  allow  no  marriages  on  the  farm.  When  Jim 
had  got  ready,  he  let  me  know,  —  he  brought  to  me 
two  suits  of  clothes  —  men's  clothes  —  which  he  had 
bought  on  purpose  for  me.  I  put  on  both  suits  to  keep 
me  warm.  We  eluded  pursuit  and  reached  Canada  in 
safety.  ,      ■_,  ,,.    .:     ^^     <  .  ,  ■,. 


MR. 


BOHM. 


I  escaped  from  slavery  in  Norfolk,  Va.  vr-; 

I  think  that  the  institution  of  slavery  is  of  no  utility 
whatever  to  the  colored  race.  Slavery  is  the  worst  kind, 
of  robbery. 


JAMES  M.  WILLIAMS. 

I  came  from  bondage  in  Norfolk,  Va.    Slavery  is  hor- 
rible! horrible!  horrible! 


JOHN  ATKINSON. 

I  escaped  from  Norfolk,  Va.  A  man  who  has  been 
in  slavery  knows,  and  no  one  else  can  know,  the  yearn- 
ings to  be  free,  and  the  fear  of  making  the  attempt.  It 
is  like  trying  to  get  relij;ion,  and  not  seeing  the  way  to 
escape  condemnation. 


/ 


44 


\  \ 


THE  refugee:  or  a 


MRS.  ELLIS. 

It  is  more  than  a  year  ago,  that  I  left  slavery  in  Del- 
aware, having  been  thirty-two  years  a  slave.  I  was 
treated  tolerably  well,  compared  with  others.  I  was 
brougl  t  up  in  ignorance.  I  felt  put  down  —  oppressed 
in  spirit.  I  did  a  great  deal  of  heavy  out-door  work,  — 
such  as  driving  team,  hauling  manure,  etc.  I  have  been 
whipped  with  a  wagon  whip  and  with  hickories, — 
have  been  kicked  and  hit  with  fists.  I  have  a  bunch 
on  my  head  from  a  blow  my  master  gave  me,  and  I 
shall  carry  it  to  my  grave.  I  have  had  four  children  — 
two  died  there,  and  two  I  brought  with  me. 

I  thought  I  had  paid  my  master  for  raising  me,  and 
I  wanted  some  time  of  my  own  :  and  when  he  threat- 
ened to  sell  me,  and  keep  my  children,  I  left  him.  I 
got  off  without  much  trouble.  I  suffered  a  great  deal 
from  wet  and  cold,  on  the  first  part  of  the  way  —  after- 
wards, I  was  helped  on  by  kind  white  men. 

Rents  and  provisions  are  dear  here,  and  it  takes  all  I 
can  earn  to  support  myself  and  children.  I  could  have 
one  of  my  children  well  brought  up  and  taken  care  of, 
by  some  firiends  in  Massachusetts,  which  would  much 
relieve  me.  —  but  I  cannot  have  my  child  go  there  on 
account  of  the  laws,  which  would  not  protect  her.  This 
is  a  hardship :  but  had  I  to  struggle  much  harder  than 
at  present,  I  would  prefer  it  to  being  a  slave.  Now,  I 
can  lie  down  at  night  in  peace,  —  there  I  had  no  peace 
even  at  night,  on  account  cf  my  master's  conduct. 

Slavery  is  a  wicked  institution.  I  think  if  the  whites 
were  to  free  the  slaves,  they  would  incur  no  danger.  I 
think  the  colored  people  would  go  to  work  without  any 
trouble.  * 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


DAN  JOSIAH  LOCKHART. 

I  belonged  in  Frederick  county,  Va.  I  was  sold  at 
five  years  of  age ;  and  when  I  first  saw  ray  mother  to 
know  her,  I  had  a  wife  and  chUd.  My  business  was  to 
clean  knives,  forks,  candlesticks,  etc.,  until  my  mistress 
died,  say  when  I  was  twelve  or  thirteen.  My  master 
remained  a  widower  some  time  —  say  eighteen  months, 
—  when  he  married  the  daughter  of  a  farmer,  upon 
which  he  quit  merchandise,  and  went  on  a  small  farm. 
The  hands  in  a  rainy  day  worked  in  the  shop  with 
tools.  I  was  made  overseer.  The  management  was 
pretty  much  left  to  me.  I  would  carry  my  gun  down 
into  a  hollow,  and  have  a  book, — the  children  had  taught 
me  to  read.  Every  thing  worked  pretty  comfortably 
with  me. 

One  of  the  women  called  me  a  liar.  I  punished  her. 
My  master  took  me  to  the  granary  to  whip  me,  —  he 
told  me  to  take  off  my  coat.  Said  I,  "  master,  whip 
me  with  my  coat  on  ! "  I  prayed  hard  for  him  to  whip 
me  with  my  coat  on.  He  did  finally  whip  me  with  my 
coat  on,  and  slightly  at  that.  He  was  an  Irishman. 
He  said  he  would  whip  me  till  I  was  as  striped  as  a 
zaybra. 

I  was  harder  on  the  servants  than  he  wanted  I  should 
be.  At  another  time  he  undertook  to  whip  me,  and  I 
told  him  I  would  leave  him  if  he  did.  I  had  my  mind 
on  my  wife,  Maria.  She  was  sold  to  a  man  in  Win- 
chester, eight  miles.  This  was  too  far,  —  so  I  wanted 
to  be  sold.  He  said  if  he  sold  me,  he  would  sell  me 
where  I  would  never  see  her.  At  this  time  I  was  study- 
ing divinity,  having  met  with  a  change  of  heart.  I  took 
my  books  and  started  off  in  daytime.     I  went  on  five 


46 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


miles,  —  then  I  met  Mr.  • 
was  going.  I  told  him  I 
back. 


,  who  asked  me  where  I 

was  sold.     He  persuaded  me 
I  was  thinking  of  trj  .ig  to  be  fiee.     Mr.  — — 


said  he  would  buy  me.  I  told  him,  "  I  will  do  the  best 
I  can  for  you."  He  slapped  his  hand  on  his  pocket  and 
said,  "  I  've  got  i;he  money  in  my  pocket  for  you."  He 
then  rode  forward  to  see  my  master.     The  bargain  was 


made    there,  and 
preacher.     Mr. 


money  paid   to 


a   Methodist 


—  took  me,  and  southern  traders  who 
came  for  me  were  too  late.  I  lived  with  my  new  mas- 
ter three  years  and  two  months.  Then  he  whipped 
my  wife  and  children,  —  (I  had  now  ten  children  by 
Mari').  I  could  not  stand  this  abuse  of  them,  and  so  . 
I  made  up  my  mind  to  leave.  I  told  my  wife  so.  She 
said  she  was  afraid  they  would  catch  me  and  bring  me  k 
back  and  —  you  know  what  then. 

It  was  in  the  year  1847,  that  I  made  my  escape. 
My  master  had  gone  to  Philadelphia.  I  told  my  mis- 
tress that  my  father  was  sick,  and  she  gave  me  permis- 
sion to  go  and  see  him.  Between  two  and  three  o'clock 
next  morning,  Sunday,  I  got  up  and  dressed  myself  to 
leave.  One  of  my  little  children  came  to  me  when  I 
had  stepped  out.  Said  I,  "  Jane,  where  are  you  go- 
ing?" "Daddy,  I'm  looking  for  you."  My  feelings*' 
were  very  tender  at  the  time.  I  took  her  up  in  my 
arms,  and  carried  her  and  laid  her  back  in  the  bed  with 
her  mother  and  the  other  little  child,  Julia.  I  sat  down 
and  waited  till  they  were  all  asleep ;  I  then  got  up, 
looked  at  the  mother  and  the  two  little  children,  —  said 
"  Farewell !  "  and  started  on  my  journey. 

The  night  previous  I  had  got  some  meat  and  bread, 
and  had  taken  my  master's  saddle-bags,  cramming  both 


fiuB  full  of  provisioiis. 


T>--    .1 1 1-     T J       _i.'    j.U_ 

JDV  uuvoreaK  i  was  out  ul   luQ 


■ciyi 


neighborhood  of  the  folks  that  knew  me. 


'^^ 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW  OF   SLAVERY. 


47 


When  I  reached  the  Potomac  River,  the  ferry-boat 
had  left  the  shore  for  the  last  time.  I  sung  out  "  Ferry, 
ahoy!"  They  put  about  and  came  for  me.  I  got  in 
and  seated  myself  with  a  colored  man  and  a  white 
man.  I  inquired  the  damage  for  crossinr  ?  Ferryman 
said  "  Fippenny  bit."  I  gave  him  a  ten  ;ent  piece,  and 
told  him  may  be  I  'd  be  passing  again,  and  he  could 
make  it  right  next  time.  The  colored  man  asked  rae, 
"Are  you  a  free  man  ?  "  It  staggered  me  at  first  to 
think  that  a  colored  man  should  ask  me  that  question. 
The  white  man  reproved  him.  "  What  the  d — ^1  do 
you  ask  that  question  for  ?  do  you  think  a  man  dressed 
like  him  can  be  a  runaway  ? "  I  got  across  safely. 
....  [Some  highly  interesting  portions  of  Lockhart'a 
narrative  are  omitted  from  prudential  considerations.] 

I  got  employment  in  Pittsburg,  but  my  mind  being 
uneasy,  I  wrote  to  a  friend  to  tell  my  wife  that  I  was 
there,  and  assuring  her  of  my  continued  affection.  My 
old  master  got  hold  of  this  letter,  and  so  pursued  me 

with  two  officers,  K and  J ,  with  a  bill  of  sale 

specifying  the  sum  paid  for  me.  They  secured  them- 
selves in  Crawson's  Hotel,  Pittsburg,  —  set  the  r  trap, 
baited  their  hook,  put  out  a  reward  of  one  hund]  ed  and 
fifty  dollars  for  my  arrest.  One  very  smart  ge;itleman 
came  down  to  Diamond  Square,  —  I  was  therd  looking 
at  a  busy  knife-grinder  with  a  crowd  around  him :  the 
smart  gentleman,  knov/ing  by  the  description  who  I 
was,  selected  me  from  the  crowd,  under  the  pretence 
that  he  wished  me  to  carry  9  trunk  — ■  told  me  he  would 
give  me  a  quarter  of  a  dollar  for  it.  I  went  to  the  place 
where  he  directed  me,  expt'^ting  to  find  the  trunk,  — 
went  to  the  Monongahela  Honse,  —  he  conducted  me 

says ;  "  Where  is  the  160th  room  ?  "     "  Yes,  that  mid- 


\l\ 


% 


{ 


48 


THE  REPUGi-E;  OR  A 


die  door."  "Sure  enough,"  said  he,  —  then  to  nie, 
"  Open  the  door,  and  bring  ont  my  trunk."  However, 
he  opened  the  door,  —  when  lo!  up  jumped  the  old 
man !  He  gave  me  a  pat  on  the  shoulder,  — "  Hallo, 
Dan !  don 't  you  want  to  go  back  ajjd  see  your  wife 
and  children  ?  "  I  said  nothing,  —  I  could  n't  say  any 
thing.  Then  came  up  X.  and  J.  to  me,  —  "  Dan,  you  've 
got  the  best  master  in  Virginia,  —  come,  go  back  with 
me."  The  old  man  then  left  the  room  and  weni-  away. 
I  began  to  feel  like  speaking  —  had  a  watch  in  my 
pocket,  —  I  put  my  hand  to  it,  to  see  if  it  was  safe,  and 
K.  said,  "  Dan,  you  need  n't  do  that,  —  we  knew  you  'd 
fight,  but  we  've  come  prepared  to  take  you  —  don 't 
want  to  hurt  you."  This  was  on  a  Friday,  between 
eleven  and  twelve  o'clock,  a.  m.  Said  I,  "  Gentlemen," 
—  this  was  the  first  time  I  had  spoken,  and  I  called  no 
name,  —  "let  me  go;  you  have  no  business  with  me 
here."  This  was  all  out  in  the  hall ;  they  had  irons  in 
the  room,  but  they  could  n't  get  me  in  there.  We 
were  now  engaged  very  smartly  for  a  time,  each  man 
for  himself.  The  noise  reached  the  people  in  the  house, 
and  some  of  the  servants  came  up  to  see  what  was  the 
trouble ;  I  called  them,  —  "  Come  to  me ; "  some  of  them 
were  colored,  but  being  alarmed,  they  did  not  interfere. 

I  spoke  out,  —  "  You  go  to  John ,  and  tell  him  that 

I  am  in  trouble  here ;  that  I  am  in  kidnappers'  hands.'* 
In  a  short  time,  the  landlord  came  up  stairs.  Says  he 
to  the  officers,  "  This  man  has  got  to  go  down,  or  there  '11 
be  bloodshed  here,  —  it  will  ruin  my  house  to  have  the 
word  go  abroad  that  there  are  kidnappers  here."     By 


this  time  John 


Peter ,  Had  ley 


and  old, 


Uncle  Sammy ,  had  marshalled  a  troop  ;  they  came 

and  surrounded  Crawson's  Hotel,  started  in,  and  came 
up  "the  stairs.    I  was  hollowing  "  murder ! "  and  "  fire !  '^ 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


49 


being  in  the  iiands  of  K.  and  J.  I  said  to  the  colored 
men,  —  "  I  thought  I  had  friends  in  Pittsburg."  They 
answered,  —  "Mr.  Lockhart,  you  have  friends,  —  we 
did  not  know  you  were  here  until  just  now."     John 

and  Peter took  hold  of  me,  and  told  K 

to  let  go.  He  answered,  —  "  You  let  go — if  you  don't 
I  *11  shoot  you."  Peter  said,  —  "  Shoot,  and  make  a 
sure  shot,  if  you  don  't  the  next  is  mine."     Then  Peter 

knocked  J down,  and  from  that  they  got  me  out  of 

the  hands  of  the  Philistines. 

My  friends  conducted  me  to  a  house  not  far  from 
Crawsoii's,  and  told  me  to  lie  down.     I  was  fatigued, 

but  not  hurt.     Peter said,  —  "We   are  goi 'g  to 

get  K.  and  J.  in  where  your  master  is,  —  he  is  safe." 
They  were  arrested  and  tried  for  breaking  the  peace  of 
the  city,  so  it  was  told  me.  Some  new  act  had  been 
passed,  and  the  judge  wanted  some  time  to  see  how  it 
differed  from  the  former  law.  On  Monday  afternoon 
he  decided  that  there  was  no  violence  on  the  part  of 
the  whites,  but  that  the  colored  men  had  been  seen  to 
knock  down  some  persons',  that  my  master  had  a  right 

to  take  me ;  and  that  K and  J had  acted  in 

discharge  of  their  duty  as  officers.  I  was  told  on 
Tuesday  morning  how  the  law  was,  and  that  I  could 
be  carried  back  if  I  remained  in  the  United  States.  I 
then  started  off  for  Canada  by  the  underground  rail- 
roau.  ....  <^^ 

My  work  is  as  hard  here  as  it  was  in  silvery.  The 
hardest  thing  in  slavery  is  not  the  work,  —  it  is  the 
abuse  of  a  man,  and,  in  my  case,  of  a  man's  wife  and 
children.  They  were  not  punished  severely,  —  but  I 
did  not  want  her  whipped  at  all  —  I  do  n't  want  any 
man  to  meddle  with  my  wife,  -—  I  bothered  her  euough, 


and  did  n't  want  anybody  else  to  trouble  her  at  all. 

5 


It 


t<' 


50 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


is  ignorance  that  keeps  the  slaves  there.  I  was  told 
before  I  left  Virginia,  —  have  heard  it  as  common  talk, 
that  the  wild  geese  were  so  numerous  in  Canada,  and 
so  bad,  that  they  would  scratch  a  man's  eyes  out ;  that 
corn  wouldn't  grow  there,  nor  any  thing  else  but  rice ; 
that  every  thing  they  had  there  was  imported. 

I  attended  a  church  for  colored  people  in  Virginia, 
and  had  good  privileges  in  religion.  The  children 
showed  me  to  read  and  write. 


MRS.  NANCY  HOWARD. 

I  was  born  in  Anne  Arundel  county,  Maryland,  — 
was  brought  up  in  Baltimore.  After  my  escape,  I 
lived  in  Lynn,  Mass.,  seven  years,  but  I  left  there 
through  fear  of  being  carried  back,  owing  to  the  fugi- 
tive slave  law.  I  have  lived  in  St.  Catharines  less  than 
a  year. 

The  way  I  got  away  was,  —  my  mistress  wat,  sick, 
and  went  into  the  country  for  her  health.  I  went  to 
stay  with  her  cousin.  After  a  month,  my  mistress  was 
sent  back  to  the  city  to  her  cousin's,  and  I  waited  on 
her.  My  daughter  had  been  off  three  years.  A  friend 
said  to  me,  — "  Now  is  your  chance  to  get  off."  At 
last  I  concl^ed  to  go,  —  the  friend  supplying  me  with 
money.     l"as  asked  no  questions  on  the  way  north. 

My  idea  of  slavery  is,  that  it  is  one  of  the  blackest, 
the  wickedest  things  that  ever  were  in  the  world. 
When  you  tell  them  the  truth,  tliey  whip  you  to  make 
you  lie.  I  have  taken  more  lashes  for  this,  than  for  any 
other  thing,  because  I  would  not  lie. 

One  day  I  s'^t  the  table,  and  forgot  to  put  on  the 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OP   SLAVERY. 


51 


carving-fork — the  knife  was  there.  I  went  to  the 
table  to  put  on  a  plate.  My  master  said,  —  "  Where  is 
the  fork  ?  "  I  told  him  "  I  forgot  it."  He  says,  —  "  You 
d — d  black  b — ,  I  '11  forget  you ! "  —  at  the  same  time 
hitting  me  on  the  head  with  the  carving-knife.  The 
blood  spurted  out,  —  you  can  see.  [Here  the  woman 
removed  her  turban  and  showed  a  circular  cicatrice 
denuded  of  hair,  about  an  inch  in  diameter,  on  the  top 
of  her  head.]  My  mistress  took  me  into  the  kitchen 
anji  put  on  camphor,  but  she  could  not  stop  the  bleed- 
ing. A  doctor  was  sent  for.  He  came,  but  asked  no 
questions.  I  was  frequently  punished  with  raw  hides,  — 
was  hit  with  tongs  and  poker  and  any  thing.  I  used 
when  I  went  out,  to  look  up  at  the  sky,  and  say,  "  Bless- 
ed Lord,  oh,  do  take  me  out  of  this  !  "  It  seemed  to 
me  I  could  not  bear  another  lick.  I  can't  forget  it.  I 
sometimes  dream  that  I  am  pursued,  and  when  I  wake, 
I  am  scared  almost  to  death. 

Slaveholders  ought  to  be  prayed  for.  I  find  it  harder 
to  get  work  here,  than  I  did  in  Massachusetts.  It  is  a 
sin  on  the  slaveholders  that  I  had  to  leave  and  come 
here.  It  has  brought  me  lower  to  the  ground.  I  think 
the  slaveholders  don't  read  the  Scriptures  the  right 
way,  —  they  do  n't  know  their  danger. 

My  master  bragged  one  day  to  his  friend,  that  I 
would  not  lie.  He  said,  "  I  came  nigh  laying  that  d — d 
b — 's  side  open,  and  she  stuck  to  it  she  was  telling  the 
truth,  and  it  turned  out  she  was."  We  ain't  no  more 
than  the  brutes,  at  the  South.  I  used  to  think  they 
would  speak  better  to  a  dog  or  cow.  Then  they  would 
say,  "  Get  out  of  the  way," — they  wouldn't  put  the 
other  to  it. 

One  Sunday,  my  master  promised  me  and  my  boy, 
that  he  hoped  God  would  damn  him,  if  he  did  not  tie 


'-Hi 


!    -'/r-j 


m 


I 


62 


w 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


138  np  and  whip  us  the  next  morning.  I  went  into  a 
corner  and  prayed  to  God,  to  allow  me  to  take  all  the 
whipping,  but  to  spare  my  boy.  By  and  by,  my  mis- 
tress ran  for  me ;  she  said  "  your  master  is  dying ! "  I 
blew  the  horn  to  call  people  to  us.  My  master  lay  on 
the  floor  —  he  never  spoke  afterwards,  but  he  lived  a 
week.  He  seemed  to  have  his  senses  —  he  would  make 
signs  with  his  head.  He  would  allow  no  one  to  pray 
with  him.  I  prayed  for  him  all  the  time  he  was  sick. 
To  the  last,  when  they  asked  him  to  have  prayers,  he 
would  shake  his  head. 


GEORGE  JOHNSON. 

I  arrived  in  St.  Catharines  about  two  hours  ago. 
[1855,  4, 17.] 

I  was  raised  near  Harper's  Ferry.  I  was  used  as 
well  as  the  people  about  there  are  used.  My  master 
used  to  pray  in  his  family  with  the  house  servants, 
morning  and  evening.  I  attended  these  services  until  I 
was  eighteen,  when  I  was  put  out  on  the  farm,  and 
lived  in  a  cabin.  We  were  well  supplied  with  food. 
We  went  to  work  at  sunrise,  and  quit  work  between 
sundown  and  dark.  Some  were  sold  from  my  master's 
farm,  and  many  from  the  neighborhood.  If  a  man  did 
any  thing  out  of  the  way,  he  was  in  more  danger  of 
being  sold  than  of  being  whipped.  The  slaves  were 
always  afraid  of  being  sold  South.  The  Southern  mas- 
ters were  believed  to  be  much  worse  than  those  about 
us.  I  had  a  great  wish  for  liberty  when  I  was  a  boy. 
I  always  had  it  in  my  head  to  clear.  But  I  had  a  wife 
and  children.    However,  my  wife  died  last  year  of 


1 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


63 


cholera,  and  then  I  determined  not  to  remain  in  that 
country. 

When  my  old  master  died,  I  fell  to  his  son.  I  had 
no  difficulty  with  him,  but  was  influenced  merely  by  a 
love  of  liberty.  I  felt  disagreeably  about  leaving  my 
friends,  —  but  I  knew  I  might  have  to  leave  them  by 
going  South.  There  was  a  fellow-servant  of  mine 
named  Thomas.  My  master  gave  him  a  letter  one  day, 
to  carry  to  a  soul-driver.  Thomas  got  a  man  to  read  it, 
who  told  him  he  was  sold.    Thomas  then  got  a  free  man 

to  carry  the  letter.    They  handcuffed ,  the  free  man, 

and  put  him  in  jail.  Thomas,  when  he  saw  them  take 
the  free  man,  dodged  into  the  bush.  He  came  to  us. 
We  made  up  a  purse,  and  sent  him  on  his  way.  Next 
day,  the  man  who  had  carried  the  letter,  sent  lor  his 
friends  and  got  out.  The  master  denied  to  us  that  he 
intended  to  sell  Thomas.  He  did  not  get  the  money 
for  him.  Thomas  afterward  wrote  a  letter  from  To- 
ronto to  his  friend. 

I  prepared  myself  by  getting  cakes,  etc.,  and  on  a 
Saturday  night  in  March,  I  and  two  comrades  started 

off  together.     They  were  younger  than  I We 

travelled  by  night  and  slept  by  day  until  we  reached 
Pittsburg.  When  we  had  got  through  the  town,  I  left 
the  two  boys,  and  told  them  not  to  leave  while  I  went 
back  to  a  grocery  for  food.  When  I  returned,  they 
were  gone,  —  I  do  not  know  their  iiii.:-  I  stopped  in 
that  neighborhood  two  nights,  trying  ^o  find  them  —  I 
did  not  dare  to  inquire  for  them.  The  second  night,  I 
made  up  my  mind  to  ask  after  them,  but  my  heart 
failed  me.  I  am  of  opinion  that  they  got  to  Canada,  as 
they  knew  the  route.  At  length  I  was  obliged  to  come 
oft'  without  them, 

I  think  that  slavery  is  not  the  best  condition  for  the 

6* 


'-,1 


>i     Vj 


i^ 


iLv 


ii  a.. 


54 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


blacks.  Whipping  and  slashing  are  bad  enough,  but 
selling  children  from  their  mothers  and  husbands  from 
their  wives  is  worse.  At  one  time  I  wanted  to  marry 
a  young  woman,  not  on  the  same  farm.  I  was  then 
sent  to  Alabama,  to  one  of  my  masters's  sons  for  two 
years.  When  the  girl  died,  I  was  sent  for  to  come 
back.  I  liked  the  work,  the  tending  of  cotton,  bett«r 
than  the  work  on  the  farm  in  Virginia,  — but  there  was 
so  much  whipping  in  Alabama,  that  I  was  glad  to  get 
back.  One  man  there,  on  another  farm,  was  tied  up 
and  received  five  hundred  and  fifty  lashes  for  striking 
the  overseer.  His  back  was  awfully  cut  up.  His  wife 
took  care  of  him.  Two  months  after,  I  saw  him  lying 
on  his  face,  unable  to  turn  over  or  help  himself.  The 
master  seemed  ashamed  of  this,  and  told  the  man  that 
if  he  got  well,  he  might  go  where  he  liked.  My  master 
told  me  he  said  so,  and  the  man  told  me  so  himself. 
Whether  he  ever  got  well,  I  do  not  know:  the  time 
when  I  saw  him,  was  just  before  I  went  back  to  Vir- 
ginia* '  ■  "■  ;:'^"''->;;^;-' 


Ji  -■ 


ISAAC   WILLIAMS. 

My  master's  farm  is  in  Virginia.  When  my  first 
master  died,  his  widow  married  a  man  who  got  into 
debt  and  was  put  into  prison.  The  woman  gave  up 
her  rights  to  get  him  out.  Then  we  were  sold.  Every 
man  came  to  be  sold  for  her  lifetime,  —  then  to  revert, 
to  the  heirs.  The  heirs  bought  in  all  they  could  — 
among  them  my  two  sisters.     They  were  sent  straight 

*  Mr.  Johnson  had  already  engaged  work  when  I  saw  him. 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OP  SLAVERY. 


65 


to  a  slave-pen  at  Richmond.  Where  they  went  I  know 
not :  that  was  the  last  I  heard  of  them  ;  we  could  not 
help  it,  —  they  went  off  crying.  My  purchaser  bought 
also  the  interest  of  the  heirs  in  me,  and  I  remained 
with  him  ten  years  —  until  my  escape,  near  the  close 
of  1854.  . 

Before  I  was  sold  I  was  hired  out  to  work :  at  one 
time  to  a  man  on  the  Rappahannock.  Three  of  his 
men  got  away  —  went  as  far  as  Bluff  Point.  Then 
they  were  overtaken,  tied  to  his  buggy  by  the  overseer, 
who  whipped  up,  and  they  had  to  rrai  home.  One,  our 
employer  and  his  overseer  whipped,  taking  turns  about 
it,  until  they  cut  him  through  to  his  caul,  and  he  died 
under  the  lash.  The  employer,  it  was  said,  caused  the 
man's  heart  to  be  taken  out  and  carried  over  the  river, 
so  as  not  to  be  haunted  by  his  spirit.  He  was  arrested, 
and  heavily  fined.  The  other  two  runaways  were  sold 
south.  Then  I  worked  for  another  person,  being  hired 
out  to  him.  Directly  after  I  went  to  him,  I  went  to 
a  haystack  to  feed  cattle :  accidentally  I  set  fire  to 
the  haystack  which  was  consumed,  —  for  which  I  re- 
ceived three  hundred  lashes  with  hickory  sticks.     The 

overseer  gave  me  the  blows  and  Jo counted  them. 

His  feeding  was  herrings  and  a  peck  of  meal  a  week  — 
never  enough  —  if  one  wanted  more  he  had  to  steal  it. 

My  last  master's  allowance  was  a  peck  and  a  half  of 
corn  meal  a  week,  and  a  small  slice  of  meat  for  each 
dinner.  If  any  thing  more  was  got  it  had  to  be  ob- 
tained at  night.  He  had  but  one  overseer,  and  that  for 
but  one  year.  He  was  a  sharp  man  —  whipped  me 
with  a  cowhide.  I  've  seen  him  whip  women  and  chil- 
dren like  oxen.  My  master  owned  a  yellow  girl,  who, 
he  feared,  would  run  away.  I  was  his  head  man  and 
had  to  help  do  it.     He  tied  her  across  the  fence,  naked, 


->-"., 


i 


•JV 


I' 


<l  I 


\ 


III 


56 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


'M 


'III 


and  whipped  her  severely  with  a  paddle  bored  with 
holes,  and  with  a  switch.  Then  he  shaved  the  hair  off 
of  one  side  of  her  head,  and  daubed  cow-filth  on  the 
shaved  part,  to  disgrace  her  —  keep  her  down.  I  tried 
hard  to  avoid  the  lash,  but  every  year  he  would  get  up 
with  me  for  a  whipping  in  some  way.  I  could  not 
avoid  it,  —  he  would  catch  me  on  something,  do  how 
I  would.    The  last  time  he  whipped  me,  was  for  stealing 

corn  for  bread  for  Christmas.    George was  with  me. 

He  tied  our  wrists  together  about  a  tree,  and  then 
whipped  us  with  a  carriage  whip  —  that  was  six  years 
ago.  He  whipped  till  he  wore  the  lash  off;  then  he 
tied  a  knot  in  the  end,  and  gave  me  a  blow  which  laid  » 
me  up  limping  three  weeks,  —  the  blood  ran  down 
into  my  shoes.  After  that  he  used  to  whip  the  others,  li 
George  and  others  would  have  their  shirts  sticking  to 
their  backs  in  the  blood.  I  have  seen  him  strip  my 
wife  and  whip  her  with  a  cobbing  board  or  cow- 
hide. ...  ^  ^  ■  ' 
One  Sunday  he  sent  me  into  the  woods  to  look  for 
hogs.  I  could  not  find  them,  and  I  told  him  so  on  my 
return.  Said  he,  "  They  are  killed  and  e;uen,  and  you 
know  the  going  of  them."  I  told  him  the  truth  that  I 
did  not  know  of  it.  He  then  seized  me  by  the  collar,  , 
and  told  me  to  cross  my  wrists.  I  did  so,  —  but  when 
he  laid  a  rope  across  to  bind  them,  I  jerked  them  apart. 
He  then  undertook  to  trip  me  forward  with  his  foot, 
and  as  I  straightened  back,  to  avoid  it,  it  threw  him. 
He  kept  his  hold  on  my  collar  and  called  for  help.  The 
servants  came  pouring  out,  —  they  seized  me,  and  he  ( 
tied  my  wrists  together  with  leading  lines,  eleven  yards 
long,  wrapping  them  about  my  wrists  as  long  as  there 
was  a  piece  to  wrap.  Then  he  led  me  to  the  meat- 
house  and  said,  "  Go  in  there  —  I  '11  lay  examples  on 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OP   SLAVERY. 


57 


you  for  all  the  rest  to  go  by  —  fighting  your  master !  " 
Whilst  one  was  making  a  cobbing  board,  and  another 
was  gone  to  cut  hickory  switches,  and  he  was  looking 
up  more  leading  lines,  I  got  a  knife  from  my  pocket, 
opened  it  with  my  teeth,  and  holding  it  in  my  mouth, 
cut  through  the  lines  which  bound  me.  Then  I  took  a 
gambrel,  and  broke  open  the  door.  I  had  made  up  my 
mind,  knowing  that  he  would  come  welltiigh  killing 
me,  to  hit  with  the  gambrel  any  one  who  came  to 
seize  me.  When  I  burst  the  door  open,  no  one  was 
there,  ^ —  but  master  was  coming.  I  sprung  for  the  flats : 
he  hailed  me  to  come  back.  I  stopped  ard  told  him 
that  I  had  worked  night  and  day  to  try  to  please  him, 
and  I  would  never  come  back  any  more.  I  stayed 
away  nine  days  —  then  he  sent  me  word,  that  he  would 
not  whip  me,  if  I  would  come  back.  I  went  back,  and 
he  did  not  whip  me  afterward.  But  he  used  to  whip 
my  wife  to  spite  me,  and  tell  her,  "  you  must  make 
Isaac  a  good  boy."     This  is  true,  God  knows. 

At  one  time,  one  of  the  iiands  named  Matthew  w^as 
cutting  wheat.  His  blade  being  dull,  our  master  gave 
him  so  many  minutes  to  grind  it.  But  Matthew  did 
not  get  the  blade  done  in  the  time  allowed.  Trouble 
grew  out  of  this.  Matthew  was  whipped,  and  kept 
chained  by  the  leg  in  one  of  the  buildings.  One  day 
when  master  was  at  church,  I  showed  Matthew  how  to 
get  away.  He  went  away  with  the  chain  and  lock  on 
his  leg.  The  neighbor's  people  got  it  off.  He  then  took 
to  the  bush.  After  two  or  three  weeks,  my  master  sent 
me  to  look  for  him,  promising  not  to  whip  him  if  I 
could  get  him  in.  I  did  not  see  him,  but  I  saw  Mat- 
thew's sisters,  and  told  them  master's  promise  not  to 
whip.  On  a  Saturday  night,  soon  after,  he  came  in. 
He  was  chained  and  locked  in  the  house  until  Sunday. 


■5  n 


1/1        J 


'ai» 


«        '. 


68 


THE  refugee:  or  a 


i   ii; 


m 


Then  he  was  given  in  charge  to  Wallace  (a  colored 
man  employed  in  the  kitchen)  to  take  care  of  him.  On 
Monday,  he  was  whipped.  Then  master  got  me  to 
persuade  Matthew  not  to  run  away.  He  wouldn't  tell 
Matthew  he  was  afraid  of  his  running,  but  would  tell 
him  he  could nH  get  away,  —  that  times  were  so  straight 
with  the  telegraph  and  railway,  that  he  couldn't  get 
away.  Ana  that's  what  keeps  the  poor  fellows  there  : 
that,  and  knowing  that  some  do  set  out,  and  get  brought 
back,  and  knowing  what  is  done  with  them.  So  Mut- 
thew  stayed  on  the  farm.  This  occurred  last  summer, 
[1854].  .     :r  :  ; 

In  the  fall,  I  was  making  money  to  come  away,  by 
selling  fish  which   I  caught  in  the  creek,  and  by  other 

means,  when  a  woman  on  Mr. 's  farm  came  to  see 

me  about  some  one  that  she  feared  would  leave.  As 
we  talked,  she  said,  "You  wouldn't  go  away  from 
your  wife  and  children  ?  "  I  said,  "  What 's  the  rea- 
son I  would  n't  ?  to  stay  here  with  half  enough  to  eat, 
and  to  see  my  wife  persecuted  for  nothing  when  I  can 
do  her  no  good.  I  '11  go  either  north  or  south,  where  I 
can  get  enough  to  eat ;  and  if  ever  1  get  awa^'^  from 
that  wife,  I'll  never  have  another  in  slavery,  to  be 
served  in  that  way."  Then  she  told  her  master,  and  he 
let  on  to  my  master,  that  I  was  making  money  to  go 
away. 

By  and  by  I  saw  Mr.  E ,  who  had  a  little  farm  in 

tne  neighborhood,  —  then  I  said  to  one  of  the  men, 
"  There 's  going  to  be  something  done  with  me  to-day, 
either  wbip  me  or  sell  me,  one  or  the  other."  Awhile 
after,  as  I  was  fanning  out  some  corn  in  the  granary, 
three  white  men  came  to  the  door  —  my  master,  Mr. 

E ,  and  a  neighboring  overseer.     My  master  came 

walking  to  mc,  taking  handcuffs   out  of  his  pocket, 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


59 


— "  Come,  Isaac,"  says  he,  "  it 's  time  for  you  to  be 
corrected  now ;  you  've  been  doing  wrong  this  year  or 

two."     Said  I,  "  What's  the  matter  now,  master ? " 

He  answered,  "  I  'm  not  going  to  whip  you ;  I  've 
made  up  my  mind  to  sell  you.  I  would  not  take  two 
thousand  dollars  for  you  on  my  farm  if  I  could  keep 
you.  I  understand  that  you  are  getting  ready  to  go 
off."  He  had  then  put  his  handcuffs  on  me :  "  Well , 
Sir,  it  is  agreed  to  go  as  freely  as  water  runs  from  the 
spring, "  —  meaning  that  I  would  go  with  him  without 
resistance  or  trouble.  "  I  have  done  all  I  could  for  you, 
night  and  day,  even  carting  wood  on  Sunday  morning, 
—  and  this  is  what  I  get  for  it."  "  Ah,  Sir,"  said  he, 
"  you  are  willing  to  go,  but 't  will  be  none  the  better  for 

you."     "  Well,  master ,  there 's  good  and  bad  men 

all  over  the  world,  and  I  'm  as  likely  to  meet  with  a 
good  man  as  to  meet  with  a  bad  one."  "  Well,  Sir,  if 
there  's  not  less  of  that  racket,  1  '11  give  you  a  good 
brushing  over."     I  warf  going  over  to  the  house  then, 

from  the  granary.     I  answered,   "  Well,  master , 

you  may  do  as  you  please,  I  am  your  nigger  now,  but 
not  long."  Then  I  met  my  wife,  coming  crying,  ask- 
ing,—"What's  the  matter?"  I  told  her,  "Eliza, 
no  more  than  what  I  told  you, — just  what  I  expected 
was  going  to  be  done."  His  word  wa:',  "  Take  her 
away,  and  if  she  don 't  hush,  take  her  to  the  granary, 
and  give  her  a  good  whipping."  She  was  crying,  you 
see.  He  took  me  to  his  bedroom,  and  cnained  me  by 
one  leg  to  his  bedpost,  and  kept  me  there,  handcuffs 
on,  all  night.  He  sh^pt  in  the  bed.  Next  morning,  he 
took  me  in  a  wagon  a  J  carried  me  to  Fredericksburg, 
and  sold  me  into  a  slave-pen  to  G^  orge  Ayler,  for  ten 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Here  1  met  with  He/r/ 
Binks.     He  entered  the  slave-pen  after  I  had  been  there 


•«>= 


1-  , 


V. 


60 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


H*    '', 


I    >!' 


f^-'op,  days.     He  had  run  away  since  May,  but  was 

tij'  51?  '.n  Washington,  D.  C. 


On  a   Thursday  evening,  came  a  trader 


■froiu   }]?e 


south,  named  Dr.  - 


He  looked  at  Ho^ry,  end  at  'X 


man  named  Georgp  Strawden,  and  at  me,  bu<  -lid  not 
pnrchase,  the  price  being  too  high.  I  dreamed  ihf^t 
night  that  he  took  us  thrre.  Next  moining  1  told 
Heiiry,  "  That  man  is  coming  to  take  you,  and 
George,  and  me,  just  as  sure  a-  the  world;  so  Henry, 
let  'y  you  and  me  make  a  bargain  to  try  and  get  av/ay ; 
for  I'm  never  deceived  ii)  a  drearo,  —  if  I  dreamed  mas- 
ter wa3  going  to  whip  me,  he  would  ;  urcly  wiiip  t>«.>n:e- 
]>ody  iv  X.*,  doy.''  That's  as  good  a  sign  in  the  south 
as  ever  way. 

About  I,-'  ukfast  time,  Dr. came  and  stripped  us 

stark    na'ved   to    examine    us.       They    frequently    do, 
whciiier   buying  women   or   men.     He   t^ays,    "  Well, 
boy.*,  I'm  satisfied  wit.i  you  all,  if  you  are  willing  to 
go  with  me,  without  putting  me  to  any  trouble."     He 
had  his  handcuffs  and  spancels  (ancle-beadir,  they  call    : 
them  for  a  nickname)  with  him.     I  said  to  him,  "  Yes, 
we  are  willing  to  go  with  you,  and  will  go  without 
any  trouble,  —  I  came  Avithout  any  trouble,  and  will 
g-o  without  any  trouble," — but  he  did  not  know  my 
meaning.     "  1  have  no  farm  to  keep  you  on  myself,"   v: 
said   he,  "  I  live  in    Tennessee,  —  1  am  going  on  to  '^ 
Georgia,  and  will  take  fifteen   hundred  dollars  apiece 
for  you  —  I  '11  get  as  good  places  for  you  as  I  can  — 
'tis  not  so  bad  there  as  you  have  heard  it  is."     I  said,  ' 

"Oh,  yes.   Master  ,    I  know  you'll   do   the   best  *': 

you  can ;  I  'm  willing  to  go."  "  Well,  get  ip  all  your 
clothes  against  the  cars  come  from  the  Cr-       and  then 

we  '11   go   to   Richmond."     "  I   suppose,   J      ter  , 

we'll  have  tim     o  get  'em,  —  how  ii  sig     Jl  it  be  be- 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW   OF  SLAVSRV. 


61 


fore  the  cars  come  along?  "  "  About  three  quarters  of 
an  hour,  boy."  Then  he  went  to  George  Ayler  to  give 
him  a  check  on  the  Richmond  Bank  for  $3,400  for  the 
three  men.  Henry  and  I  then  got  up  our  clothes,  —  I 
put  on  two  shirts,  three  pairs  of  pantaloons,  two  vests, 
a  thick  coat,  and  a  summer  coat  in  the  pocket,  —  Henry 
did  the  same  with  his ;  so  we  had  no  bundles  to  carry. 
We  were  afraid  to  let  George  know,  for  fear  he  would 
betray  us.       ^^-.iK  _'/-':.  ^  ^-^ -■■'■■"■  ' 

Dr. left  the  gate  open,  being  deceived  by  our 

apparent  readiness  to  go  with  him.  We  told  George, 
"  Stop  a  minute,  we  are  going  to  get  some  water.  Then 
we  walked  through  Fredericksburg  —  having  left  the 
city  we  crossed  the  bridge  to  Falmouth,  turned  to  the 
left,  and  made  for  the  bush.  Then  we  heard  the  cars 
from  the  creek,  as  they  were  running  to  Fredericksburg. 
On  looking  round,  we  saw  a  number  of  men  coming  after 
us  on  horseback.  The  way  we  cleared  them  was,  we 
went  into  the  bush,  turned  short  to  the  right,  leaving  them 
the  straightforward  road,  —  we  then  moved  on  toward 
the  very  county  from  which  I  was  sold.  We  were  out 
three  weeks,  during  the  last  of  which  we  made  a  cave 
by  digging  into  a  cliff,  at  the  head  of  the  creek.  The 
southern  men  who  saw  the  cave  (as  we  heard  afterward 
when  we  were  in  jail)  said  they  never  saw  so  complete 
a  place  to  hide  in. 

All  this  time  I  had  visited  my  wife  every  day,  either 
when  the  white  folks  were  occupied,  or  before  day. 
One  Saturday  night  we  hunted  about  for  something  to 
eat,  without  fir'ding  any  thing  until  midnight.  It  then 
cai  .  '  iiiiv)  my  head  about  the  man  who  had  persuaded 
u^y  master  to  s,  U  me,  —  so  we  went  to  him,  and  got  a 
dozen  chiclvcns,  which  w*  took  to  our  cave.-  This  made 
us  late,  —  it  was  sunrise  wher  we  reached  our  cave, 

^6 


r^i 


•ii 


'A      Tx>^» 


62 


TiiK  refugee;  or  a 


end  then  H ,  who  was  standing  in  the  woods,  ]ook« 

ing  for  my  brother  Horace,  saw  me,  and  saw  us  going 

into  our  den.     Then  he  went  off  and  got  N -,  with 

a  double-barrelled  gun,  and  T with  a  hickory  club ; 

and  himself  returned  with  a  six-barrelled  revolver. 

Then  I  heard  N asking,  "  Who  is  in  here  ?  "     I 

looked  up,  and  there  was  the  gun  within  two  feet  of 
my  head,  up  to  his  face  and  cocked.  "  Surrender,  or 
I  '11  blow  your  brains  out !  "     I  looked  out,  but  saw  no 

way  of  escape,  but  by  going  across  the  creek,  —  N 

was  on  one  side  with  his  gun,  H on  the  other  with 

his  revolver,  and  T over  the  entrance  with  his  hick- 
ory stick.  I  said  to  Henry,  "  What  rre  we  to  do  ?  I 
started  for  death,  and  death  we  must  try  to  go  through. 

I  want  to  see  the  man  that  bought  us,  no  more."    N 

hailed  me  by  name,  for  he  had  now  seen  my  face,  "  Sur- 
render, for  if  you  come  out,  I  '11  blow  your  brains  out." 
«  Then,"  said  I,  "  You  will  have  to  do  it."  Then  I 
came  out,  bringing  my  broadaxe  weighing  seven  and  a 
half  pounds  in  my  hand,  —  he  just  stood  aside  and  gave 
me  a  chance  to  come  out  by  the  muzzle  of  his  gun. 
We  sprung  for  the  creek,  I  and  my  partner.  In  the 
middle  it  was  over  my  depth,  but  I  reached  the  other 
side,  still  holding  on  to  the  axe.  While  I  .vas  strug- 
gling to  get  up  the  bank,  N fired,  and  shot  the 

broad  axe  out  of  my  hand,  putting  twenty-nine  shot 
into  my  right  arm  and  hand,  and  seven  into  my  right 
thigh.  I  ran  until  I  got  through  a  piece  of  marsh,  and 
upon  a  beach  near  some  woods. 

I  was  standing  looking  at  my  arm ;  and  on  looking 
around  for  Henry  saw  him  in  the  sedge.     By  this  time 

H had  crossed  the  creek  too.     I  called  to  Henry  to 

come  on,  and  as  he'rose  from  the  hedge,  N shot 

him.     He  fell ;  then  he  got  up,  ran  a  little  distance,  and 


I 


iliHIll 


!:| 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OP  SLAVERY. 


63 


fell  again.  Ther.  he  rose  up,  presently  fell  a  third  time, 
but  again  recovered  himself  and  came  to  me. 

Finding  ourselves  wounded  and  bleeding,  so  that  we 
could  do  nothing  further  towards  escape,  we  gave  up. 
They  tied  our  hands  behind  us  with  a  leather  strap, 
which  was  very  painful,  as  my  wounded  wrist  swelled 
very  much.     I  begged  them  to  loosen  it  but  they  would 

not.     They  took  us  to  jail  in  county.     Dr.   H. 

there  counted  ninety  shot  in  Henry's  back,  legs,  and 
arms.  We  stayed  in  the  jail,  a  month  lacking  three 
days,  —  two  weeks  in  a  sort  of  dungeon  in  the  cellar: 
then,  Henry  being  sick  with  fever,  from  the  effects  of 
the  shooting,  they  put  us  up  stairs,  one  J|tory  higher. 
We  were  kept  on  water  and  collots  (outside  leaves  of 
cabbage  half  cooked).  I  begged  the  Lord,  would  I  ever 
get  out,  and  if  't  was  so  that  I  was  to  be  caught  after  I 
got  out,  not  to  let  me  get  out.  In  my  dream,  I  saw 
myself  prying  out,  and  heard  a  man  speaking  to  me  and 
saying,  "  As  long  as  there 's  breath  there  's  hope."  His 
voice  awoke  me.  I  told  Henry,  and  we  got  up,  ar'l 
went  to  the  place  where  I  had  dreamed  of  trying,  b'lt 
we  could  not  open  it.     This  was  after  three  weeks. 

Then  the  agent  of  Dr. came  to  examine  us.     He 

found  we  were  shot  so  badly,  that  he  would  not  take 

us  to  Richmond,  unless  he  first  heard  from  Dr. ,  as 

there  was  said  to  be  some  dispute  between  Dr. and 

Ayler  about  the  money.  On  a  Thursday,  three  days 
before  the  month  of  November  was  out,  we  c  j^  ;  lt;d 
Dr. .     But  he  did  not  happen  to  come. 

T  had  been  trying  several  days  at  one  of  the  windows, 
but  despaired  of  getting  out  there,  —  so  I  took  a  stove 
leg  and  a  piece  of  a  fender,  and  tried  at  another  win- 
dow f^  dng  the  jailer's  house.  Then  conscience  said  to 
mf ,       io  and  try  that  window  that  you  left,  and  see  if 


m 


i'.cf;:^':i 


'•.   ■■^% 


>'<! 


■  'i*: 


i 


.i!i 


'!  'lis 


)'  F!i  )'i 


il 


i  !;il!!'! 


64 


THE  REFUGEE  ;  OR  A 


you  can't  get  out."  I  looked  at  Henry  to  see  if  he  was 
talking,  but  he  said  he  hud  not  spoken.  I  then  returned 
to  the  first  window,  and  pried  off  a  short  plank  by  the 
window  to  see  b*; '  t  '^'i.  >  built.  The  jail  was  of  brick, 
and  the  win<iL  vv  '"  ,;.me  was  secured  in  its  place  by  an 
iron  clamp,  spiked.  On  removing  the  plank  I  found 
behind  it  a  short  piece  of  iron  spliced  on.  This  I  pried 
off  with  the  stove  leg ;  then  I  replaced  the  plank. 

At  night,  just  after  dark,  T  ,.  ...i.  'O  wnrk  at  the  win- 
dow. Henry  was  too  sick  to  work,  but  when  I  needed 
his  help,  he  would  come  and  aid  me.  With  the  piece 
of  uMi  I  had  taken  from  the  wall,  I  got  a  purchase 
agaiiist  the  clamp.  We  took  the  bedstead  to  pieces, 
and  using  the  short  or  long  pieces  as  was  convenient, 
we  started  the  frame  off  jn  one  side,  splitting  the  sill 
at  the  boUom,  where  the  grates  were  let  in,  and  bend- 
ing all  the  cross  bars.  Where  the  sill  split  off,  it  left  a 
place  so  wide,  that  by  removing  the  bricks  undf  neath 
the  window,  we  (Milarged  it  sufficiently  to  get  through. 
I  stretched  out  of  the  opening  full  length,  and  let  go, 
falling  to  the  ground.  Henry  followed  me,  I  assisting 
him  down. 

We  walked  eight  inilos  that  night,  to  my  master's 
farm,  and  hid  oniselves  in  the  neighborhood,  until  Sat- 
urday night.  Then  1  wen  out  for  something  to  eat. 
On  my  return,  I  saw  as  many  as  fifteen  men  hunting 
for  me,  some  O'-  h'^rse,  some  on  foot,  ^vith  four  hounds. 
I  squatted  close  behind  a  thick  cedar  bush :  the  hounds 
came  around  me,  and  I  gave  ^hern  portions  of  the  food 
I  had  collected,  to  keep  "  ^em  quiet,  until  the  white  men 


were  out  of  sight,  —  tht 


ared  away  the  hounds.     I 


then  rejoined  Henry  at  oar  teut.  If  the  runaways  knew 
enough  they  could  keep  clear  of  the  hounds  by  rubbing 
the  soles  of  their  shoes  with  red  onion  or  spruce  pine. 


nchth-sidj    view  op  slavery. 


65 


It  now  came  on  to  ruin,  so  that  we  were  obliged  to 
dig  a  den  in  the;  ground,  expecting  to  stay  there  until 
spring,  as  we  thought  it  would  be  too  cold  to  travel  in 
the  winter,  and  that  in  the  warm  season  we  might  live 
on  fruits  by  the  way.  About  this  time,  a  neighboring 
farmer  had  two  mules  killed  by  a  boar.     His  overseer, 

H ,  the  same  who  found  me  before,  told  him  that 

Henry  and  I  had   done   it,  —  then    S D and 

others  sent  to  Fredericksburg  for  men  and  hounds  to 
drive  night  and  day,  and  take  us,  dead  or  alive,  with 
orders  to  shoot  us  down  |it  the  very  first  sight.  This 
we  learned  from  some  of  our  good  friends,  —  and  we 
then  determined  to  leave.  Here  I  come  to  speak  of 
Kit  Nichols,  a  slave  on  another  farm.  Kit  had  been 
beaten,  and  had  run  away,  —  he  laid  down  in  a  wet 
ditch  to  avoid  his  pursuers.  I  met  Kit  in  the  woods. 
He  was  anxious  to  go  witii  us,  and  we  all  three  started 
on  Monday  night,  the  1st  day  of  December,  1854. 

We  walked  eighteen  miles  the  first  night,  to  ... , 

kept  on  through  the  towns  of and  ,  up   to 

M .     At  M ,  I  met  a  colored  man,  and  asked 

him  for  food,  as  I  had  been  fasting  a  long  time.  He 
directed  us  to  a  place  where  he  said  we  could  get  food. 
Then  he  went  away,  and  soon  wc  saw  him  returning 
with  three  white  men.  Kit  and  Henry  dodged,  and  I 
v;^ont  on  and  met  the  white  men  face  to  face.  Kit  and 
Henry  heard  them  say  there  were  "  three  boys  going  to 
Warrenton."  They  passed  on  to  the  place  where  the 
colored  man  had  sent  us.  We  travelled  on  towards 
Warrenton,  until  we  struck  the  railroad,  and  then  footed 
it  to  Alexandria.  On  the  way  we  went  up  to  a  house, 
where  was  a  white  man  and  his  wife,  —  we  asked  him  to 
sell  us  some  bread.  Said  he,  "  Have  you  got  a  pass  ?  " 
Said  I,  "  I  have   no  pass,  but  we  want  some  bread, 

6* 


•^'i 


M 


« 


\  \ 


66 


THE  refu(jee;  or  a 


ii|!ip|llil 


and  we  will  pay  you  for  it."  He  went  on,  "  You  can 't 
travel  without  a  pass."  We  told  him  we  were  hungry, 
—  he  kept  on  talicing  about  a  "pass."  Finding  we 
could  get  no  bread  we  left  him,  and  he  then  set  his  dog 
on  us. 

On  the  Virginia  side  of  the  bridge,  we  bought  cigars 
and  a  few  (  akes.  "We  lighted  our  cigars,  and  I  walked 
on,  swinging  a  little  cane.  We  passed  through  Wash- 
ington city.  It  now  rained.  We  wandered  about  all 
night  in  the  rain  in  Maryland.  Just  at  daybreak  we 
heard  cars,  and  walked  for  the  railroad.  Before  reach- 
ing it,  we  went  into  the  bush,  and  with  some  matches 
which  I  had  kept  dry  in  my  hat,  made  a  fire  and  dried 
our  clothes.  We  remained  in  the  bush  all  day,  watch- 
ing and  sleeping,  and  at  night  went  on  to  the  railroad. 
On  our  way,  we  met  two  white  men,  who  asked  us, 
"  Where  are  you  going  ? "  I  told  them,  "  home.'' 
"Where?"  "In  Baltimore."  "Where  have  you 
been  ? "  "  Chopping  wood  for  John  Brown."  They 
asked,  "  Are  you  free  ?  "  "  Yes."  "  Where  are  your 
papers  ?  "  "  At  home,  in  Baltimore."  They  went  into 
a  shanty  to  arm  themselves.  While  they  were  doing 
this,  we  ran  as  fast  as  we  could. 

We  reached  Baltimore  just  at  light,  and  laid  down  in 
a  small  piece  of  bush  in  the  corporation.  We  watched 
as  the  trains  came  in  through  the  day  to  see  where  the 
depot  was,  as  we  wished  to  get  on  the  track  for  Phila- 
delphia. At  night  we  walked  boldly  past  the  depot, 
but  we  were  bothered  by  the  forking  of  the  roads,  and 
came  out  at  the  river.  Then  we  tried  back,  —  by  and 
by  we  saw  a  long  train  moving  out  from  the  city.  We 
followed  it,  and  went  on  to  Havre  de  Grace,  —  but  we 
did  not  cross  the  bridge  —  we  could  not  cross  over  as 
we  had  wished.     We  moved  in  another  direction.     We 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVEUY. 


67 


concealed  ourselves  the  next  day,  and  again  travelled 
all  night.  In  the  nnorning,  we  met  with  a  friend,  a 
colored  man,  who  guided  us  about  ten  miles,  and  then 
directed  us  to  a  place  where  we  had  abundance  of  food 
given  us,  the  first  we  had  tasted  since  Thursday,  al- 
though it  was  now  Saturday  night.  "We  met  with  no 
more  trouble.  We  reached  Canada  the  morning  after 
Christmas,  at  3  o'clock. 

It  is  the  wickedest  thing  a  man  can  do  to  hold  a 
slave  —  the  most  unconscionable  sin  a  man  can  do.  If 
there  were  any  chance  to  fight  for  the  slaves'  freedom, 
I  'd  go  and  stand  up  at  the  south  and  fight  as  readily  as 
I  would  now  go  out  of  doors.  I  believe  it  would  be 
just,  and  a  righteous  cause.  I  feel  great  pity  for  the 
poor  creatures  there,  who  long  for  a  way,  yet  nan  'see 
no  way  out.  They  think  if  Great  Britain  were  to  get 
into  a  war  with  America,  it  would  be  the  means  of 
freeing  them.  They  would  slip  round  and  get  on  the 
English  side. 

If  slavery  were  abolished,  I  would  rather  live  in  a 
southern  State,  —  I  would  work  for  some  one,  but  I 
should  want  to  have  a  piece  of  land  of  my  own. 


CHRISTOPHER  NICHOLS. 

I  made  my  escape  from  slavery  in  Virginia ;  do  n't 
know  my  age,  —  suppose  some  forty  odd.  I  belonged 
to  but  one  man  until  after  I  was  married.  I  tried  to 
do  my  work.  The  lash  was  used  in  season  and  out  of 
season.  The  whip  was  cracking  from  Monday  morn- 
ing to  Saturday  night.  We  were  up  before  day  — 
when  the  rooster  crowed,  the  horn  blowed.     By  the 


68 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


i  m 


■'"  !  I 


time  one  could  see  his  hand  before  him,  he  was  at  work, 
and  we  were  kept  at  work  until  late.  If  a  man  ran 
away  after  he  had  been  whipped,  the  rest  of  us  were 
put  on  half  allowance  till  he  came  back,  and  the  run- 
away must  make  up  his  lost  time  by  working  Sundays. 

If  I  were  to  sit  here  until  to-morrow  morning,  I 
couldn't  tell  you  half  as  bad  as  1  have  been  used 
since  I  can  remember.  ...    r  y^ 

One  Sunday,  when  I  was  ab(  rt  nineteen  years  old, 
the  white  children  were  playing  in  the  stack-yard.  The 
boys  (slaves)  had  hooked  a  sheep,  and  these  children 
found  the  hide  in  the  straw.  Master  had  all  the  slaves 
brought  up  Suiiday  evening.  The  overseer  came  home 
half  drunk  —  worse  than  if  sober.  They  whipped  one 
hard ;  I  and  another  thought  of  running,  —  but  I  was 
innocent,  and  thought  they  wouJd  n't  whip  me.  I  went 
up  and  pulled  off  my  jacket, — they  stripped  me  and 
whipped  me  until  I  fainted.  Then  they  carried  me  to 
tb^  kitchen  and  sent  for  the  doctor.  I  was  out  of  my 
head  two  or  three  days:  the  master  told  the  boys  I 
was  playing  'possum.  They  never  found  out  who  took 
the  sheep.     They  whipped  four  —  the  rest  dodged. 

At  about  twenty-one  or  twenty-two,  I  went  to  live 
with  a  man  who  had  married  my  master's  daughter. 
The  first  word  he  ever  said  to  me  was,  "  "Where's  the 
key  to  the  corn-house  ?  "  "I  do  n't  know.  Sir."  Said 
he,  «  Has  the  horse  been  fed  ?  "  «  Yes,  S^r."  "  Has  he 
had  enough  ?  "  "I  do  n't  know.  Sir."  "  Do  you  think 
you  are  talking  to  a  poor  man,  or  to  a  nigger,  like  your- 
self? "  He  then  seized  a  stake  from  the  fence,  and  said 
if  I  talked  so  to  him  any  more,  he  would  "lay  me 
sprawling."       a  \.; 

After  he  found  that  by  my  old  master's  will,  I  be- 
longed to  him,  he  began  to  beat  me.     He  came  down 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


69 


to  the  mill  one  day,  —  I  tended  a  mill  —  I  was  picking,  — 
I  had  stopped  to  fix  the  spindle ;  he  thought  me  asleep, 
and  hit  me  one  or  two  blows.  Then  he  went  out  and 
cut  some  hickory  sticks.  He  came  to  the  door  and 
called  me.  I  came  to  him  with  the  pick  in  my  hand. 
"  Lay  that  down."  I  did  so.  While  he  was  looking 
for  a  place  to  tie  me  up,  I  went  by  him  and  ran  into 
the  woods.  At  night  I  went  back  for  my  clothes; 
then,  with  two  more  boys,  I  started  for  the  free  States. 
We  did  not  know  where  they  were,  but  went  to  try 
to  find  them.  We  crossed  the  Potomac  and  hunted 
round  and  round  and  round.  Some  one  showed  us  the 
way  to  Washington ;  but  we  missed  of  it,  and  wan- 
dered all  night ;  then  we  found  ourselves  where  we  set 
out.  In  a  week's  time,  we  got  to  Washington  —  then 
to  Scatterway,  and  were  caught.  They  took  us  to 
Marlborough  jail,  and  we  were  kept  there  two  days 
and  nights.  Then  the  masters  took  us  out  handcuffed 
together.  On  the  next  morning,  we  went  to  Alex- 
andria and  were  put  in  jail.  Then  the  traders  came 
,  from  Washington  to  examine  us.  One  of  the  boys 
was  sold  to  go  south.  Jarvis  and  I  were  chained  to- 
gether, and   our   hands  were  together.     On  our   way 

back,  we  encountered  Mr.  S ,  M 's  father,  who 

seized  a  large  club  and  hit  Jarvis  over  the  head  with  it, 

drawing  blood  terribly.     Young  M stopped  him. 

Then  they  took  us  to  Mr.  S 's  house,  and  chained 

us  to  different  trees,  where  we  stayed  all  day.     Young 

M came  to  me  and  slung  my  leg  up  into  the  tree 

so  that  I  fell  on   my  back.     Said  I,  "  Master  M , 

you  hurt  me."     Said  he,  "  I  want  to  hurt  yoi:,  because 
you  give  meal  to  my  boys." 

By  and  by  Mr.  M W came  and  took  me 

home,  chained  to  a  horse.     My  master  I  saw  coming 


}'■■ 


i'  .11 


^■t- 


v\ 


70 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


Mill 


!     H 


with  a  cobbing'board  full  of  auger  holes,  and  somebody 
was  cutting  switches.  Said  he,  "  How  are  you  ?  how 
are  you  ?  this  country  is  too  hot  for  you,  is  n't  it  ?  You 
were  making  for  the  north  where  it 's  cool."     Then  he 

told  Mr.  W to  take  me  to  the  barn,  in  the  late 

afternoon,  and  said  he  would  get  it  out  of  me.  He 
used  the  cobbing-board  until  he  burst  it  to  pieces,  then 
a  boy  came  with  an  arm  full  of  switches.  The  boy 
was  going,  but  he  stopped  the  boy  to  see  it  done,  so 
.that  he  might  tell  the  others.  Then  he  began  to  whip 
me,  and  he  whipped,  and  he  whipped,  and  he  whipped, 
and  he  whipped ;  I  was  in  hopes  the  switches  would 
break  up,  but  it  seemed  as  if  one  would  last  all  the 
evening.  When  he  had  done  whipping  it  was  dark, 
and  I  was  hardly  able  to  get  to  the  house.  His  Vife 
sent  me  down  a  piece  of  mutton  suet  to  grease  my 
back.  My  shirt  was  as  if  it  had  been  dipped  in  a  bar? 
rel  of  blood.  The  next  day,  I  had  to  go  and  stand  be- 
fore the  drum  of  the  wheat  machine,  and  tend  the  ma- 
chine all  day.  At  night  I  was  compelled  to  stack 
straw.  I  could  not  get  along  with  my  master  at  all. 
He  was  all  the  time  hitting  or  whipping  me  —  I  was 
"  a  bad  example  for  the  boys,"  he  said,  "  but  he  'd  get 
it  out  of  me  yet."  One  day  he  found  some  wheat  in 
the  mill,  which  I  was  going  to  grind  for  the  boys. 
Then  he  took  me  to  the  carriage-house  and  tied  me  to 
the  carriage  wheel,  and  whipped  me  a^  badly  as  when 
I  had  run  away.  After  the  whipping,  he  made  a  boy 
take  spirits  of  turpentine  and  rub  on  my  back.  Next 
day,  every  one  who  saw  me  —  the  white  people  who 
came  to  the  mill  —  said  it  was  a  shame  to  use  any- 
body in  that  way.     This  was  in  the  summer  of  1854. 

I  always  had  it  in  my  mind,  that  if  I  could  get  to  a 
free  State,  I  should  be  better  off  than  where  I  was. 


•-     I 

m 


NORTII-SIPE   VIEW   OF   SLAVERY. 


71 


But  I  had  been  told  by  N W that  I  could  not 

get  away :  there  were  guards  at  every  corner  of  the 
street  in  Washington,  etc. 

My  master  used  to  allow  us  one  piece  of  meat  a  day, 
and  a  peck  and  a  half  of  corn  meal  a  week. 

He  whipped  a  woman  before  I  came  away,  Wm. 
Dunkan's  wife,  who  had  a  young  child.  He  laid  her 
on  a  bench,  and  threw  her  clothes  up  over  her  head, 
and  made  a  boy  and  a  woman  hold  her.  He  whipped 
her  with  a  cobbing-board  until  she  fainted,  —  she  was 

so  bad  that  they  sent  for  Dr.  W ;  but  he  was  so  * 

angry  at  what  my  master  had  done,  that  he  would  not 
go.  A  week  or  two  after,  I  saw  the  woman  about 
again. 

Another  case  on  the  same  farm  was  that  of  Mary 
Montgomery,  who  had  a  small  child  at  her  breast. 
She  had  been  sick  for  two  or  three  days,  but  went  out 
to  get  some  ice  for  her  master.  The  foreman  told  her 
to  go  back  to  the  house,  as  she  was  too  sick  to  work. 
She  went  back,  and  then  master  drove  her  out  to  go 
again  for  ice.  Then  she  took  to  the  woods,  and  he  has 
not  seen  her  since.  It  was  said,  that  she  got  to  the 
North,  but  nobody  knew.  Her  child  was  taken  care  of 
by  another  woman,  who  tried  to  bring  it  up  by  hand, 
but  it  died.        --  ,. 

My  master  used  me  so,  that  I  was  determined  to 
istart  off,  live  or  die.  I  ific^da  up  my  mind  that  I  would 
rather  die  than  be  taken.  I  took  no  pistol  —  no  knife 
—  nothing  but  a  stick  to  walk  with.  I  came  away 
with  Isaac  Williams  and  Henry  Banks.  When  I  found 
that  Isaac  was  going,  I  determined  to  start,  as  I  thought 
it  would  be  a  poor  chance  for  me,  if  he  got  off  before  I 
did. 

I  left  a  wife  and  three  children,  an  \  three   grand- 


',    I .  -r  ■?  5- 


!  ■! 


I   *l 

1  H 


^. 


72 


THE  repuqee;  or  a 


children,  —  I  never  expect  to  see  them  again  in  this 
world  —  never. 

1  have  seen  parents  and  children,  husbands  and  wives, 
separated  by  sale. 

It  seems  not  right  for  slavery  to  be.  I  do  not  think 
it  does  any  good  to  the  colored  men.  I  feel  no  inclina- 
tion to  go  back  —  I  don't  want  to  cross  the  line.  All 
the  time  I  was  in  slavery,  I  lived  in  dead  dread  and 
fear.  If  I  slept  it  was  in  dread  —  and  in  the  morning 
it  was  dread  —  dread,  night  and  day.  It  seems  to 
tne  I  must  have  been  dead  by  this  time,  if  I  had  not 
got  away.  My  master  was  killing  me  as  fast  as  he 
could  when  I  got  away.  ,     , . 


;i|ip 


HENRY  BANKS. 

I  was  born  in  Stafford  Co.,  in  1835.  I  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm.  I  did  not  go  to  school.  I  learned  to 
read  of  my  brother-in-law,  but  1  cannot  write.  There 
was  a  Sunday  school,  but  not  for  colored  children. 

One  of  the  earliest  things  I  remember  is  my  being 

sold  to  Mr.  N ,  a  farmer  in  the  neighborhood.     My 

mother  and  brothers  and  sisters  were  sold  at  the  same 
time  to  N .  I  lived  with  N until  about  fif- 
teen years  old.  When  I  was  eight  years  old,  I  was 
put  to  work  regularly  on  the  farm,  ploughing,  hoeing 
corn,  and  doing  farm  work  generally.  I  have  belonged 
to  several  owners,  but  I  have  no  recollectiop  of  any  one 
of  them  ever  coming  to  my  cabin  to  inquire  into  my 
wants,  nor  to  ask  whether  any  thijig  was  necessary  for 
my  comfort  or  convenience,  —  nor  wheth(;r  I  was  well 
used  by  the  overseer  or  foreman.     If  I  were  sick,  the 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OF   SLAVERY. 


73 


overseer  attended  to  me,  —  if  he  thought  it  needful,  he 
would  give  me  medicine,  —  if  he  thought  it  a  hard 
case,  he  would  send  for  a  doctor.  I  had  the  doctor 
once,  but  the  owner  did  not  come  to  see  me.  This  was 
nothing  strange,  —  it  was  so  with  all,  so  far  as  I  have 

heard.     N 's  ove/seer  whipped  me  often  —  stripped 

me,  and  tied  me  up  when  he  did  it,  and  generally  drew 
blood,  —  sometimes  he  would  not  be  so  severe  as  at 
others,  but  I  have  frequently  had  to  pull  my  shirt  from 
my  back  with  a  good  deal  of  misery,  on  account  of  its 
sticking  in  the  blood  where  I  had  been  lashed.  Let 
daybreak  catch  me  in  the  house,  instead  ot  currying 
the  horses,  that  was  as  good  for  a  flogging  as  any  thing 
else, — if  caught  standing  at  the  plough,  instead  of 
moving,  that  was  good  for  fifty  lashes  more  or  less,  — 
the  least  of  any  thing  would  provoke  it.  I  was  whipped 
once  because  the  overseer  said  I  looked  mad :  "  Come 
here,  you  d — d  selfish  son  of  a  b — h,  I  '11  please  you  by 
the  time  I  've  done  with  you."  Then  he  v^hipped  me, 
so  that  I  couldn't  hollow.  I  always  tried  to  do  the 
work  faithfully  that  was  assigned  me,  —  not  because  I 
felt  it  a  duty,  but  because  I  was  afraid  not  to  do  it :  I 
did  not  feel  it  right,  however,  to  be  compelled  to  work 
for  other  folks. 

N broke  up,  —  sold  the  farm  and  all  his  people. 

"We  were  scattered,  but  not  very  far  apart  —  some  six 
or  seven  miles.  I  was  sold  to  R S ,  in  Spot- 
sylvania county,  across  the  Rappahannock.     I  was  the 

only  one  of  the  family  that  S bought.     I  lived  with 

him  about  a  year  and  a  half.  He  had  a  colored  slave 
foreman,  who  had  to  do  as  he  was  commanded,  and  I 
hardly  had  so  much  considc::ation  as  from  a  white  over- 
seer.    S did  not  clothe  nor  feed  his  hands  well. 

We  were  worked  very  late  at  night  and  were  at  it 


li: 


.I 


vr;       •  :.  1 


i 

.  ■!■ 


4 


74 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


again  before  day.  Sundays  differed  little  from  other 
days.  Sometimes  he  would  give  us  Sunday  or  part  of 
a  Sunday  ;  but  if  he  were  in  the  least  angry,  we  had  to 
work  all  day.     I  did  not  hear  a  sermon  preached  during 

the  time  I  lived  with  S ,  there  was  no  meeting  for  us 

to  go  to.  I  would  sometimes  hear  of  there  being  meet- 
ings about  there,  but  I  had  no  chance  to  go.  At  this 
place  there  was  no  colored  minister  —  there  were  no 
Christian  people  on  that  place.  I  never  heard  any  re-  ; 
ligious  songs  while  I  was  there.  It  was  work,  work, 
and  nothing  else ;  that's  all  they  asked  ci'  me,  —  and  if 
we  did  not  do  it,  we  were  whipped.  Nobody  was  ex- 
cused—  we  were  all  used  one  way — all  kept  at  it.  I 
left  him  on  account  of  work.  It  was  in  harvest  —  har- 
vesting wheat.  I  was  cradling — I  could  n't  make  the 
cradle  cut  well.  S said,  "  You  can  make  that  cra- 
dle cut  better  if  you  choose  to,  —  but  you  do  n't  choose 
to."  I  told  him  "  I  had  tried  to  make  it  do  the  best  I 
knew  how."  Then  he  said  to  the  men,  "  Come  here  and 
take  hold  of  this  d — d  nigger,  I  '11  make  it  all  right  with 
him."  Then  they  took  me  to  the  barn,  sti'ipped  me  * 
stark  naked,  and  then  he  tied  my  hands  together  and 
my  feet  together,  and  swung  me  up  so  I  could  move  ^ 
neither  way.  While  he  was  tying  me  up,  I  told  him, 
"  I  will  do  all  I  know  how  to  do."  He  said  "'twas  a 
d — d  lie,  —  I  did  n't  do  it,  —  but  he  knew  I  could  do  it, . 
—  and  w  hen  he  was  done  with  me,  he  'd  show  that  I 
would  do  it."  Then  he  commenced  whipping  me  with 
a  cowhide,  made  keen  at  the  end ;  he  put  on  the  blows 
forward  and  backward  —  every  blow  bringing  the  blood. 
He  must  have  whipped  me  a  solid  half  hour.  Before 
he  took  me  down,  he  said,  "  Now  will  you  go  and  do 
the  business?"  I  told  him  then,  that  "  I  had  told  him 
before  that  I  would  willingly  do  all  that  I  knew  how." 


Ill 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


75 


He  said,  "  I  '11  try  you  with  this  —  if  I  tie  you  up  again, 
I'll  give  you  five  hundred."  Then  he  tooic  me  down. 
I  was  then  unable  to  do  any  work.  He  told  me  to  go 
to  work,  but  I  could  not  even  stand.  He  then  had  me 
carried  by  the  hands  into  the  shade  of  a  tree,  where  I 
laid  juf.t  as  I  could,  —  I  could  not  lie  anyway  long. 
The  men  brought  buckets  of  water  and  threw  on  me,  — 
I  knew  what  it  was  for  —  they  thought  I  was  dying. 

I  did  no  more  work  for  S .     I*  ran  away  that  same 

night  into  the  woods. 

I  ran  away  in  order  that  master  might  sell  me  run- 
ning, —  I  did  n't  care  much  whose  hands  I  fell  into,  if 
I  got  out  of  his.  He  put  out  advertisements  for  me,  as 
I  was  told,  of  twenty-five  dollars  reward,  for  bringing 
me  home  not  injured.  I  had  heard  tell  of  a  free  coun- 
try—  but  I  did  not  know  where  it  was,  nor  how  to  get 
there.  I  stayed  in  the  woods  three  months;  I  then 
thought  I  would  start  for  a  free  country  somewhere.  I 
got  as  far  as  the  city  of  Washington ;  there  I  went 
aboard  a  vessel  which  the  captain  told  me  was  going 
to  Boston.  But  it  was  not.  He  asked  me  for  free  pa- 
pers—  I  told  him  I  had  none.  Then  he  suspected  me, 
and  said  I  could  not  ship  without  them.  He  said,  if  I 
were  a  slave,  he  would  make  a  free  man  of  me,  —  that 
he  had  a  habit  of  doing  so,  —  but  he  lied.  I  believed 
him,  however — I  trusted  him,  and  told  him  ray  case, 
how  my  owner  treated  me,  and  all,  —  he  said  he  thought 
it  was  very  wrong.  Then,  after  he  had  got  it  all  out  of 
me,  he  went  into  the  city,  and  told  me  to  stay  aboard 
till  he  came  back ;  to  get  what  I  wanted  to  eat,  and 
cook  it,  but  not  let  myself  be  seen,  because  I  might  be 
taken  up.  He  was  gone  a  short  time,  and  then  he 
came  back,  and  asked  me  to  go  with  him  to  his  house, 
to  bring  some  provisions  down  for  his  vessel.     I  went 


">''if 


•  -ii 


76 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


with  him  up  the  street  —  there  were  several  persons 
standing  on  a  corner.  The  captain  said,  "  Come  this 
way  ;  there  's  a  constable  —  do  n't  let  him  see  you ! " 
Then  the  constable  came  along  behind  us.  The  cap- 
tain led  me  into  an  office  and  said,  "  Here 's  a  runaway 
I've  took  up."  There  was  some  questioning,  and  I 
was  put  in  jail.  , 

In  one  week's  time,  R S came  and  shook 

hands  with  me  through  the  grates.  He  asked,  "  What 
made  mc  run  away  ?  "  I  told  him,  "  I  would  n't  have 
run  away  if  he  had  n't  whipped  me  "  "  Do  you  want 
to  go  home  ?  "  "I  '11  go  back  if  you  won't  whip  me 
any  more."  He  made  no  promise,  but  took  me  home. 
Directly  he  sold  me  to  George  Ayler.  I  escaped  from 
Ayler's  lilave-pen  in  company  with  Isaac  Williams 

In  the  den  we  were ;  three  white  men  came  upon  us. 
We  took  across  the  creek.  I  was  in  the  den  when  they 
fired  at  Isaac.  I  then  jumped  for  the  creek.  I  was 
shot  by  one  of  the  white  men.  I  caught  the  shot  from 
my  legs  to  my  shoulders  —  all  over  my  back.  About  a 
hundred  shot  holes  were  counted  in  my  back,  —  they 
were  ducking  shot,  and  are  mostly  in  me  now.  I  suffer 
from  them  now  in  my  right  arm,  if  I  do  any  work. 

I  do  not  think  it  was  intended  for  any  man  to  be  a 
slave.  I  never  thought  so,  from  a  little  boy.  The 
slaves  are  not  contented  and  happy.  They  can't  be : 
I  never  knew  one  to  be  so  where  I  was.  j        ,,« 


a 


% 


NOllTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


77 


JOHN  W.  LINDSEY. 

[Mr.  Lindscy  rec  -t.otl  St.  Catharines  in  an  entirely  destitute  con- 
dition. He  is  now  reputed  to  be  worth  from  eight  to  ten  thousand 
dollars,  acquired  by  industry  and  economy.] 

I  was  born  free.  At  the  age  of  seven,  I  was  kid- 
napped by  S G ,  and  carried  to  West  Tennes- 
see. Wiien  I  was  about  twenty-five  years  old,  I  went  toa 
man  who  had  been  Postmaster  General,  and  asked  him 
if  he  would  do  any  thing  toward  restoring  my  freedom, 
as  I  had  been 'kidnapped  wrongfully,  and  was  unlaw- 
fully detained  by  Mr. .     He  answered,  that  "  Mr. 

G had  settled  all  that,"  and  advised  me  to  "  Go 

home  and  be  a  good  boy."  Finding  that  I  was  to  get 
no  assistance  from  any  quarter,  and  that  justice  was 
refused  me,  I  resolved  to  free  myself.  I  was  whiter 
then  than  I  am  iir\v,  for  it  was  twenty-one  years  ago, 
and  I  worked  under  cover  at  blacksmithing.  A  person 
across  the  streeo  could  not  tell  whether  I  were  a  white 
or  a  colored  man.  Whether  I  was  pursued  o'*  not  I 
am  unable  to  say.  I  walked  by  day  and  rested  at 
night. 

I  passed  people  working  in  the  fields,  and  once  I 
heard  one  ask  another,  "  Do  you  think  that  is  a  white 
man  ?  "  I  took  no  notice  of  this,  and  walked  on.  At 
one  time  I  met  a  man  on  horseback  who  stopped  and 
talked  with  me.  I  spoke  so  familiarly  of  this  great 
man  and  of  that  great  man,  and  talked  in  so  important 
a  way,  that  he  did  not  dare  ask  me  if  I  were  a  slave ! 
At  one  place,  I  was  somewhat  afraid  of  pursuit,  and 
there  secired  to  be  some  suspicions  entertained  in  re- 
gard to  me.  I  walked  away  from  the  town  on  the  bank 
of  the  river  and  prayed  to  the  Lord  for  deliverance. 


•V'-^iT 


'i  ,  if 


78 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


Just  then  a  stea-iil^oat  came  along  —  she  was  bound 
for  Pittsburg.  I  got  a  passage  on  board.  T'  ^  cook, 
who  wa  I  a  very  black  man,  asked  me  "  if  I  w u,:  aee  ?  " 
I  told  him  that  I  nad  heard  of  a  man  in  Maryland  who 
got  rich  by  minding  his  own  business,  and  that  he 
would  find  it  for  his  own  interest  to  attend  to  his  own 
affairs.  However,  I  found  little  difficulty  in  reacliing 
the  frontier  and  crossing  the  line. 

I  have  travelled  in  Maryland,  Virginia,  Kentucky, 
and  Tennessee.  If  a  man  says  slavery  is  a  good  insti- 
tution, he  might  as  well  say  there  is  no  God  —  only  a 
devil  Slavery  is  like  the  bottomless  pit.  You  hear 
people  say  to  the  negro,  "  Why  don't  you  accomplish 
something  ?  "  You  see  the  colored  men,  their  faces 
scarred  and  wrinkled,  and  almost  deprived  of  intelli- 
gence in  some  cases,  —  their  manliness  crushed  out; 
stooping,  awkward  in  gait,  —  kept  in  entire  ignorance. 
Now,  to  af-k  Ihi'm  why  they  do  n't  do  some  great  thing, 
is  like  tyi;:  i;  ti  nan  or  weakening  him  by  medicine,  and 
then  sayii.'i;^  "  Why  don't  you  go  and  do  that  piece  of 
work,  or  plant  that  field  with  wheat  and  corn  ?"  Slavery 
is  mean.  The  slaveholders  want  their  slaves  for  pocket- 
money.  The  slaves  are  their  right  hand  to  do  their 
work. 


f  / 


\  I 


HENRY  ATKINSON. 


I  belonged  in  Norfolk,  Va.,  from  birth  until  thirty- 
four  years  of  age.  I  never  saw  my  owner,  but  when  I 
was  a  little  boy.  I  was  hired  out  by  the  year  by  an 
agent  of  my  owner.  Sometimes  I  was  well  cared  for, 
sometimes  not,  according  to  the  man's  disposition  that 
employed  me.     There  was.  one  man  who  was  a  kind 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


79 


rriu   )ut  of  a  book  ;  no 

le.     During  all  these 

ill)  'Minning  upon  this, 

idage  ?  —  for,  as  well 

der  a  hard  bondage. 


hearted  man,  who  hired  me  nine  years  of  the  time.  He 
treated  me  well,  giving  me  enough  to  eat,  drink,  and 
wear,  and  a  quarter  of  a  dollar  every  Saturday  night  to 
support  my  wife.  She  lived  in  thr  ity,  being  a  slave  : 
I  could  not  see  her  when  I  wish(>d  always,  —  sometimes 
I  was  not  permitted  to  yce  her.  The  way  w(;  were 
married  was,  a  few  won  is  v 
license  was  granted,  as  to  ^ree 
nine  years,  my  mind  was 

—  how  am  I  to  get  out  ol 
as  I  was  used,  I  felt  that  I  w. 
I  studied  upon  it  long.     I  have  Iain  awake  more  than 
half  the  night,  many  a  time,  studying  on  that  one  thing 

—  should  I  ever  be  able  to  get  clear  ?     But  I  could  not 
see  my  way  out. 

At  one  time  I  was  hired  out  to  a  man  whose  treat- 
ment of  me  was  very  bad.  Many  times  I  would  be 
sick  and  could  scarcely  hold  up  my  head :  this  man 
would  do  nothing  for  me  on  the  plea  that  it  belonged 
to  the  agent  to  do  it,  —  the  agent  would  say  it  was  not 
his  duty,  but  my  employer's,  —  and  so  I  suffered  from 
neglect.  If  neither  of  them  would  help  me,  I  had  no- 
where to  go  for  relief.  He  would  allow  me  no  money : 
if  I  wanted  a  few  cents  for  myself  or  my  wife  I  had  to 
work  nights  to  earn  them. 

I  had  no  chance  to  learn  to  read  or  write.  The  agent 
never  came  near  me  to  see  if  I  were  well  used  or  abused 
by  the  people  who  hired  me.  All  I  ever  saw  of  him 
was  when  the  year  was  up  and  he  came  to  get  his 
money.  Excepting  the  nine  years'  time  I  have  spoken 
of  before,  I  was  put  up  in  the  ring  and  let  to  the  high- 
est bidder,  —  I  was  hired  out,  did  the  work,  and  others 
got  the  money,  —  that  was  mean  and  hard  too. 

In  regard  to  religious  instruction,  I  was  allowed  to 


S^^  **^  ^a"^ 


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23  WIST  MAIN  STRHT 

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(716)  •72-4503 


ST 


.^% 


■'M'  . 


80 


THE  REFUGEE  J  OR  A 


go  to  church  on  Sunday,  to  a  white  clergyman  —  no 
colored  preacher  being  allowed  in  Norfolk.  "We  call 
some  colored  men,  ministers,  but  they  read  nothing  from 
the  Bible  —  they  exhort  a  little  sometimes,  —  but 't  is  n't 
preaching.  The  white  clergymen  don't  preach  the 
whole  gospel  there.  Since  I  have  been  here,  I  have 
heard  the  passage  about  the  fast  that  the  Lord  hath 
chosen,  to  loose  the  bands  of  wickedness,  to  undo  the 
heavy  burdens,  to  let  the  oppressed  go  free,  and  that  ye 
break  every  yoke.  I  never  heard  that  down  South.  If 
a  colored  man  were  to  say  it,  he  'd  have  the  handcuffs 
put  on  quick,  —  if  a  white  man  were  to  say  it,  he  'd 
have  to  leave,  because  they  'd  say  he  was  "  putting  too 
much  into  the  niggers'  heads."  I  've  seen  white  children 
driven  away  from  among  the  colored,  when  they  said 
something  the  old  folks  did  not  like,  because  it  was 
"  putting  something  into  the  nigger's  head." 

I  was  a  member  of  the  First  Baptist  church.  I  heard 
the  white  minister  preach,  and  I  thought  within  myself, 
I  will  seek  a  better  world  above,  —  here  I  am  in  bond- 
age, and  if  there  is  a  better  world  above  where!  shall 
not  be  pulled  and  hauled  about  and  tormented  as  I  am 
in  this,  I  will  seek  it. 

The  person  I  termed  my  owner  was  a  woman  who 
removed  to  England,  and  lived  in  London.  When  I 
was  about  twenty  years  old,  I  heard  of  her  death,  and 
that  she  had  made  a  will  leaving  all  her  slaves,  fifteen 
in  number,  free ;  and  that  the  property  and  money  which 
had  belonged  to  her,  was  to  be  divided  amongst  us.  I 
was  told  so  by  a  white  person  —  a  lawyer.  But  she 
had  one  son  living  in  Calcutta.  He  was  written  to, 
to  find  out  who  were  the  heirs  to  these  people  and  this 
property.  He  returned  word  that  he  had  no  heirs  for 
the  people  and  property,  and  that  he  did  not  want 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OP  SLAVERY. 


81 


them,  —  but  that  he  wished  them  to  do  what  his  mother 
requested  —  liberate  the  slaves,  give  them  the  property, 
and  let  them  go  where  they  pleased.  My  employer 
told  me  and  my  fellow-servants  —  all  relatives  of  mine 
—  that  we  should  have  our  time,  —  but  still  we  were 
hired  out  He  kept  feeding  us  with  the  tale  that  wo 
should  have  our  time,  and  still  kept  hiring  us  out.  This 
was  done  to  keep  us  from  running  away. 

By  and  by,  to  blind  us,  the  agent  told  us  that  my 
mistress'  son  was  dead,  and  that  we  had  fallen  to  his 

nearest  relations,  Mr.  W ,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Mr. 

M ,  of  Washington :  but  they  were  no  more  his 

relations  than  that  lamp.  Mr.  W.  and  Mr.  M.  came  to 
Norfolk,  and  actually  divided  us  as  equally  as  they 
could.  The  family  consisted  of  two  sisters  with  seven 
children  each,  and  an  uncle.  In  the  division,  I  was 
taken  from  my  mother's  family,  and  put  with  my  aunt's, 
and  with  them  fell  to  Mr.  M,  We  still  remained  in 
Norfolk,  but  it  grieved  me  so  that  I  knew  not  what  to 
do  to  think  that  I  was  so  robbed.  For  my  mistress, 
when  I  was  a  little  boy,  sat  at  the  table  with  me,  and 
she  put  her  hand  on  my  head  and  said,  "  My  poor  little 
servant,  you  shall  never  serve  any  one  after  I  am  dead, 
but  shall  have  enough  to  live  on  the  rest  of  your  days." 
To  remember  this,  and  that  she  had  died  and  left  it  in 
her  will  as  she  had  said,  and  then  to  be  cheated  out  of 
it,  grieved  me  so,  that  I  knew  not  how  to  bear  it.  I 
was  hired  out  a  short  time,  but  expected  every  day  to 
be  carried  up  to  Washington. 

At  last,  I  found  an  opportunity  to  escape,  after  study- 
ing upon  it  a  long  time.  But  it  went  hard  to  leave  my 
wife ;  it  was  like  taking  my  heart's  blood :  but  I  could 
not  help  it  —  I  expected  to  be  taken  away  where  I 
should  never  see  her  again,  and  so  I  concluded  that  it 


I 


I 


i 


t  I 


82 


THE  refugee:  or  a 


would  be  right  to  leave  her.  [Here  Atkinson's  eyes 
filled  with  tears.]  I  never  expect  to  see  her  again  in 
this  world  —  nor  our  child. 

I  reached  Canada  about  a  year  ago.  Liberty  I  find 
to  be  sweet  indeed. 

I  think  slavery  Ik  the  worst  and  meanest  thing  to  be 
thought  of.  It  appears  to  me  that  God  cannot  receive 
into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  those  who  deal  in  slaves. 
God  made  all  men  —  He  is  no  respecter  of  persons  — 
and  it  is  impossible  that  he  should,  on  account  of  my 
color,  intend  that  I  should  be  the  slave  of  a  man,  be- 
cause he  is  of  a  brighter  skin  than  I  am. 


WIIXIAM  GROSE. 

I  was  held  as  a  slave  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.  When 
I  was  twenty-five  years  old,  my  two  brothers  who  were 
twelve  miles  out,  were  sent  for  to  the  ferry,  so  as  to 
catch  us  all  three  together,  which  they  did.  We  were 
then  taken  to  Baltimore  to  be  sold  down  south.  The 
reason  was,  that  I  had  a  free  wife  in  Virginia,  and  they 
were  afraid  we  would  get  away  through  her  means. 
My  wife  and  two  children  were  then  keeping  boarders ; 
I  was  well  used,  and  we  were  doing  well.  All  at  once, 
on  Sunday  morning,  a  man  came  to  my  house  before  I 
was  up,  and  called  me  to  go  to  his  store  to  help  put  ^p 
some  goods.  My  wife  suspected  it  was  a  trap :  but  I 
started  to  go.  When  I  came  in  sight  of  him,  my  heart 
failed  me ;  I  sent  him  word  I  could  not  come.  On 
inquiry  in  a  certain  quarter,  I  was  told  that  1  was  sold, 
and  was  advised  to  make  my  escape  into  Pennsylvania. 


NORTH-SIDB  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


83 


I  then  went  to  my  owner's,  twelve  miles,  and  remained 
there  three  days,  they  telling  me  I  was  not  sold.  The 
two  brothers  were  all  this  time  in  jail,  but  I  did  not 
then  know  it.  I  was  sent  to  the  mill  to  get  some  offal, 
—  then  two  men  came  in,  grabbed  me  and  handcuffed 
me,  and  took  me  off.  How  I  felt  that  day  I  cannot 
tell.  I  had  never  been  more  than  twenty  miles  from 
home,  and  now  I  was  taken  away  from  my  mother  and 
wife  and  children.  About  four  miles  from  the  mill,  I 
met  my  wife  in  the  road  coming  to  bring  me  some 
clean  clothes.  She  met  me  as  I  was  on  horseback, 
handcuffed.  She  thought  I  was  on  the  farm,  and  was 
surprised  to  see  me.  They  let  me  get  down  to  walk 
and  talk  with  her  until  we  came  to  the  jail :  then  they 
put  me  in,  and  kept  her  outside.  She  had  then  eight 
miles  to  go  on  foot,  to  get  clothes  ready  for  me  to  take 
along.  I  was  ^  so  crazy,  1  do  n*t  know  what  my  wife 
said.  I  was  beside  myself  to  think  of  going  south.  I 
was  as  afraid  of  traders  as  I  would  be  of  a  bear.  This 
was  Tuesday. 

The  man  who  had  bought  us  came  early  "Wednesday 
morning,  but  the  jailer  would  not  let  us  out,  he  hoping 
to  make  a  bargain  with  somebody  else,  and  induce  our 
owners  to  withdraw  the  bond  from  the  man  that  had 
us.  Upon  this,  the  trader  and  jailer  got  into  a  quarrel, 
and  the  trader  produced  a  pistol,  which  the  jailer  and 
his  brother  took  away  from  him.  After  some  time,  the 
jailer  let  us  out.  We  were  handcuffed  together :  I  was 
in  the  middle,  a  hand  of  each  brother  fastened  to  mine. 
We  walked  thus  to  Harper's  Ferry :  there  my  wife  met 
me  with  some  clothes.  She  said  but  little ;  she  was  in 
grief  and  crying.  The  two  men  with  us  told  her  they 
would  get  us  a  good  home.     We  went  by  the  cars  to 


'U\ 


p  ji' 


tM\ 


1'    - 
I* 

S-    .  }  • 


"■■;'? 


■\'     ¥ 


84 


\ 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


i 


Baltimore  —  remained  fifteen  days  in  jail.  Then  we 
were  separated,  myself  and  one  brother  goiirg  to  New 
Orleans,  and  the  other  remained  in  B.  Him  I  have  not 
seen  since,  but  have  heard  that  he  was  taken  to  Geor- 
gia. There  were  about  seventy  of  us,  men,  women, 
and  children  shipped  to  New  Orleans.  Nothing  espec- 
ial occurred  except  on  one  occasion,  when,  after  some 
thick  weather,  the  ahip  came  near  an  English  island : 
the  captain  then  hurried  us  all  below  and  closed  the 
hatches.  After  pairing  the  island,  we  had  liberty  to 
come  up  again. 

We  waited  on  our  owners  awhile  in  New  Orleans, 
and  after  four  mont)is,  my  brother  and  I  were  sold  to- 
gether as  house  servants  in  the  city,  to  an  old  widower, 
who  would  not  have  a  white  face  about  him.  He  had 
a  colored  woman  for  a  wife  —  she  being  a  slave.  He 
had  had  several  wives  whom  he  had  set  free  when  he 
got  tired  of  them.  This  woman  came  for  us  to  the 
yard,  —  then  we  went  before  him.  He  sent  for  a 
woman,  who  came  in,  and  said  he  to  me,  "  That  is 
your  wife.  I  was  scared  half  to  death,  for  I  had  one 
wife  whom  I  liked,  and  did  n't  want  another,  —  but  I 
said  nothing.  He  assigned  one  to  my  brother  in  the 
same  way.  There  was  no  ceremony  about  it  —  he 
said  "  Cyrithia  is  your  wife,  and  Ellen  is  John's."  As 
we  were  not  acclimated,  he  sent  us  into  Alabama  to  a 
watering-place,  where  we  remained  three  months  till 
late  in  the  fall  —  then  we  went  back  to  him.  I  was 
hired  out  one  month  in  a  gambling  saloon,  where  I 
had  twd  m^aJs  a  day  and  slept  on  a  table ;  then  for 
nine  months  to  an  American  family,  where  I  got 
along  very  well ;  then  to  a  man  who  had  been  mate  of 
a  steamboat,  and  whom  I  could  not  please.     After  I 


lii 


MORTU-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAYERT. 


85 


had  been  in  New  Orleans  a  year,  my  wife  came  on  and 
was  employed  in  the  same  place,  (in  the  American 
family). 

One  oppression  there  was,  my  wife  did  not  dare  let 
it  be  known  she  was  from  Virginia,  through  fear  of 
being  sold.  When  my  master  found  out  that  I  had  a 
free-woman  for  a  wife  there,  he  was  angry  about  it,  and 
began  to  grumble.  Then  she  went  to  a  lawyer  to  get 
a  certificate  by  which  she  could  remain  there.  He 
would  get  one  for  a  hundred  dollars,  which  was  more 
than  she  was  able  to  pay :  so  she  did  not  get  the  certifi- 
cate, but  promised  to  take  one  by  and  by.  His  hoping 
to  get  the  money  kept  him  from  troubling  her,  —  and 
before  the  time  came  for  her  taking  it,  she  left  for  a  dis- 
tant place.  He  was  mad  about  it,  and  told  me  that  if 
she  ever  came  there  again,  he'd  put  her  to  so  much 
trouble  that  she  would  wish  she  had  paid  the  hundred 
dollars  and  got  the  certificate.  This  did  not  disturb  me, 
as  I  knew  she  would  not  come  back  any  more. 

After  my  wife  was  gone,  I  felt  very  uneasy.  At 
length,  I  picked  up  spunk,  and  said  I  would  start.  AU 
this  time,  I  dreamed  on  nights  that  I  was  getting  clear. 
This  put  the  notion  into  my  head  to  start  —  a  dream 
that  I  had  reached  a  free  soil  and  was  perfectly  safe. 
Sometimes  I  felt  as  if  I  would  get  clear,  and  again  as 
if  I  would  not.  I  had  many  doubts.  I  said  to  myself 
—  I  recollect  it  well,  —  I  can't  die  but  once ;  if  they 
catch  me,  they  can  but  kill  me :  I  '11  defend  myself  as 
far  as  I  can.  I  armed  myself  with  an  old  razor,  and 
made  a  start  alone,  telling  no  one,  not  even  my  brother. 
All  the  way  along,  I  felt  a  dread  —  a  heavy  load  on  ine 
all  the  way.  I  would  look  up  at  the  telegraph  wire,  and 
dread  that  the  news  was  going  on  ahead  of  me.  At 
one  time  I  was  on  a  canal-boat  —  it  did  not  seem  to  go 

8 


im^^ 


86 


TIIE  BEFUQEX!,'  OB  A 


fast  enough  for  me,  and  I  felt  very  much  cast  down 
about  it ;  at  last  I  came  to  a  place  where  the  telegraph 
wire  was  broken,  and  I  felt  as  if  the  heavy  load  was 
rolled  off  me.  I  intended  to  stay  in  my  native  country, 
—  but  I  saw  so  many  mean-looking  men,  that  I  did 
not  dare  to  stay.  I  found  a  friend  who  helped  me  on 
the  way  to  C'anada,  which  I  reached  in  1851, 

I  served  twenty-five  years  in  slavery,  and  about  five 
I  have  been  free.  I  feel  now  like  a  man,  while  before 
I  felt  more  as  though  I  were  but  a  brute.  When  in 
the  United  States,  if  a  white  man  spoke  to  me,  I  would 
feel  frightened,  whether  I  were  in  the  right  or  wrong ; 
but  now  it  is  quite  a  different  thing,  —  if  a  white  man 
speaks  to  me,  I  can  look  him  right  in  the  eyes  —  if  he 
were  to  insult  me,  I  could  give  him  an  answer.  I  have 
the  rights  and  privileges  of  any  other  man.  I  am  now 
living  with  my  wife  and  children,  and  doing  very  well. 
When  I  lie  down  at  night,  I  do  not  feel  afraid  of  over- 
sleeping, so  that  my  employer  might  jump  on  me  if  he 
pleased.  I  am  a  true  British  subject,  and  I  have  a  vote 
every  year  as  much  as  any  other  man.  I  often  used 
to  wonder  in  the  United  States,  when  I  saw  carriages 
going  round  for  voters,  why  they  never  asked  me  to 
vote.  But  I  have  since  foimd  out  the  reason,  —  I  know 
they  were  using  my  vote  instead  of  my  using  it  —  now 
I  use  it  myself.  Now  I  feel  like  a  man,  and  I  wish  to 
God  that  all  my  fellow-creatures  could  feel  the  same 
fireedom  that  I  feel.  I  am  not  prejudiced  against  all 
the  white  race  in  the  United  States,  —  it  is  only  the 
portion  that  sustain  the  cursed  laws  of  slavery. 

Here 's  something  I  want  to  say  to  the  colored  peo- 
ple in  the  United  States :  You  think  you  are  free  there, 
but  you  are  very  much  mistaken :  if  you  wish  to  be 
free  men,  I  hope  you  will  all  come  to  Canada  as  soon 


NORTH-SIPE  VIBW  OF  SLAVERY. 


*Hi 


^..  87 


"***», 


as  possible.  There  is  plenty  of  land  here,  and  schools 
to  educate  your  children.  I  have  no  education  myself, 
but  I  don't  intend  to  let  •my  children  come  up  as  I  did. 
I  have  but  two,  and  instead  of  making  servants  out  of 
them,  I  '11  give  them  a  good  education,  which  I  could 
not  do  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  United  States. 
True,  they  were  not  slaves  there,  but  I  could  not  have 
given  them  any  education. 

I  have  been  through  both  Upper  and  Lower  Canada, 
and  I  have  found  the  colored  people  keeping  stores, 
farming,  etc.,  and  doing  well.  I  have  made  more 
money  since  I  came  here,  than  I  made  in  the  United 
States.  I  know  several  colored  people  who  have  be- 
come wealthy  by  industry  —  owning  horses  and  car- 
riages, —  one  who  was  a  fellow-servant  of  mine,  now 
owns  two  span  of  horses,  and  two  as  fine  carriages  as 
there  are  on  the  bank.  As  a  general  thing,  the  colored 
people  are  more  sober  and  industrious  than  in  the 
States:  there  they  feel  when  they  have  money,  that 
they  cannot  make  what  use  they  would  like  of  it,  they 
are  so  kept  down,  so  looked  down  upon.  Here  they 
have  something  to  do  with  their  money,  and  put  it  to  r 
good  purpose. 

I  am  employed  in  the  Clifton  House,  at  the  Falls. 


DAVID  WEST. 

I  came  from  King  and  Queen  county,  Va.,  where  I 
left  a  wife  and  four  children.  I  was  treated  well  —  I 
paid  my  master  two  hundred  dollars  a  year,  and  acted 
honorably  all  through  the  time  I  remained  there.     My 


88 


THE  rbfugee;  or  a 


master  died,  and  I  heard  that  I  was  to  be  sold,  which 
would  separate  me  from  my  family,  and  knowing  no 
law  which  would  defend  me,  I  concluded  to  come 
away. 

When  my  master  died,  I  made  his  coffin  and  buried 
him.  I  am  a  carpenter,  and  well  known  in  King  and 
Queen  county.  I  did  not  believe  that  slavery  was 
right,  but  as  I  was  born  there,  and  had  a  family  there, 
I  tried  to  content  myself  to  remain,  and  should  prob- 
ably have  done  so,  but  for  the  dread  of  being  sold  south. 
My  mistress  told  me  that  I  was  not  to  be  sold,  and  my 
master's  brother  told  me  the  same, — but  I  had  seen 
him  carry  away  my  father,  sister,  and  aunt  to  Alabama 
to  be  sold :  my  father  being  then  sixty  years  old.  When 
he  returned,  I  asked  him  "  what  he  had  done  with  my 
father?"  —  all  he  said  was,  *^Sir?"  and  that  was  all 
the  answer  he  made  me.  Of  course  I  could  not  believe 
him,  when  he  said  I  was  not  to  be  sold :  for  he  had 
fooled  my  father  with  the  story  that  he  was  going  to 
remove  to  Alabama  himself.  Gentlemen  in  the  neigh- 
borhood told  me  I  was  going  to  be  sold. 

When  I  left,  I  told  my  purpose  to  no  one.  I  studied 
a  plan  by  which  I  might  get  away,  and  I  succeeded. 

I  am  now  in  Canada  doing  well  at  my  trade,  and  I 
expect  to  do  yet  better.  My  only  trouble  is  about  my 
wife  and  family.  I  never  should  have  come  away  but 
for  being  forced  away. 

A  Baptist  preacher  told  me  once,  -v^  hen  I  was  work- 
ing for  him,  that  there  was  no  country  in  the  world 
equal  to  Virginia.  My  answer  was,  "  Yes,  I  believe  it 
is  the  greatest  country  in  the  world :  for  one  third  of 
the  people  are  doing  nothing,  and  the  other  two  thirds 
are  working  to  support  them."  He  then  spoke  of  some- 
thing else. 


^ 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OF   SLAVBRT. 


89 


My  family  are  perpetually  on  ray  mind.  I  should  be 
perfectly  happy  if  I  could  have  my  wife  and  the  four 
children.  If  my  wife  had  known  it,  and  had  said  half 
a  word,  I  should  have  stayed  to  the  moment  of  being 
sold. 

I  look  upon  slavery  as  a  disgrace,  and  as  breaking 
the  laws  of  God :  that  no  man  can  keep  the  laws  of 
God  and  hold  to  slavery.  I  believe  my  own  master 
was  as  good  a  man  as  there  is  in  the  whole  South :  I 
loved  him  in  health,  and  I  loved  him  in  death,  —  but  I 
can  read  the  Bible,  and  I  do  not  see  any  thing  there  by 
which  he  could  be  justified  in  holding  slaves :  and  I 
know  not  where  he  has  gone  to. 

It  is  a  common  remark  that  they  have  a  right  to  hold 
the  slaves,  because  they  were  given  them  by  their  fa- 
thers,— justifying  their  own  sins  by  those  of  their  fathers: 
would  it  excuse  them  for  stealing  or  drinking,  to  say 
that  their  fathers  were  thieves  and  drunkards  ? 

I  was  taught,  secretly,  to  read,  but  never  taught  to 
write :  I  feel  that  I  have  been  wrongfully  deprived  of 
the  knowledge  of  writing.  I  could  have  done  better 
for  myself  every  way  had  I  known  how  to  write. 

I  was  led  to  religious  knowledge,  by  hearing  old  col- 
ored people  talk,  and  by  the  preaching  I  heard.  I  was 
constrained  to  seek  repentano^e,  was  converted,  and 
joined  the  Pokaroan  church,  [Baptist].  I  used  to  par- 
take of  the  sacrament  after  the  whites  had  had  their 
communion.  We  could  have  no  night  meetings  with- 
out fear  of  the  patrols,  who  would  lash  those  they  could 
catch  during  or  after  service. 

I  wish  well  to  the  members  of  that  church ;  and,  al- 
though my  name  is  now  taken  off  the  records  with 
scorn,  I  have  done  nothing  wrong,  nor  have  I  offended 
my  Maker  by  the  course  I  have  pursued.    I  hope  to 

8* 


WA 


A 


•f 


90 


r' 


THE  refuoee;  or  a 


meet  them  in  heaven  with  the  hundred  and  forty  and 
four  thousand  whom  John  saw  in  Mount  Sion  (or  the 
New  Jerusalem),  where  we  all  shall  meet  and  no  more 
to  part.  «b 

We  shall  never  be  able  to  meet  in  that  city  holding 
that  which  does  not  belong  to  us. 

I  want  to  ask  the  southern  people  if  their  o-^  con- 
sciences do  not  tell  them  it  is  wrong  to  hold  slaves, 
knowing  that  it  is  against  the  laws  of  God  ? 

I  have  seen  the  slaves  to  be  underfed  and  half 
clothed,  and  the  masters  would  say  they  were  well 
taken  care  of.  I  have  known  this  of  three  or  four  coun- 
ties. I  have  known  a  slave  to  be  sick,  and  to  be  neg- 
lected until  he  was  about  to  die,  and  then  a  great  stir 
would  be  made,  —  and  if  he  died,  they  would  say, 
"  The  best  nigger  is  dead,"  although  when  living,  it 
would  seem  as  if  he  could  do  nothing  to  please  them. 
I  have  seen  separations  of  families  every  year  for  many 
years. 

The  slaveholders  so  far  as  I  know  are  generally  mean 
people.  I  have  been  cheated  by  a  rich  slaveholder  out 
of  half  a  bushel- of  corn  in  buying  half  a  barrel.  I 
knew  it  and  he  knew  it ;  but  he  knew  I  would  not  dare 
say  any  thing  about  it,  —  the  law  was  such  that  he 
could  have  me  whipped,  if  I  were  to  contradict  him. 
He  was  worth  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  I  was  not  worth 
ten  cents  :  I  believe  that  trade  was  just  as  jnuch  right 
as  it  is  to  hold  slaves.  I  told  some  white  people  of  this 
before  I  left,  and  they  cried  out  "  shame  !  ^* 

I  believe  that  if  the  slaveholders  were  to  say,  "  IJere, 
boys,  you  are  free ;  you  may  go  to  work  for  me  at  so 
much  a  day,"  —  if  't  was  done  all  over  the  South,  there 
would  be  no  trouble :  't  would  be  no  great  credit  to  set 
them  free,  for  't  is  no  more  than  their  duty. 


NORTH-BIBB  VIBW  OF  SLAVERT. 


91 


I  have  known  slaves  to  be  hungry,  but  when  their 
master  asked  them  if  they  had  enough,  they  would, 
through  fear,  say  "  Yes."  So  if  asked  if  they  wish  to 
be  free,  they  will  say  "  No."  I  knew  a  case  where  there 
was  a  division  of  between  fifty  and  sixty  slaves  among 
heirs,  one  of  whom  intended  to  set  free  her  part.  So 
wishing  to  consult  them,  she  asked  of  %uch  and  such 
ones,  if  they  would  like  to  be  free,  and  they  all  said 
"  No : "  —  for  if  they  had  said  yea,  and  had  then  fallen  to 
the  other  heirs,  they  would  be  sold,  —  and  so  they  said 
"  No,"  against  their  own  consciences.  But  there  will 
be  a  time  when  all  will  be  judged.  The  Lord,  He 
made  us  out  of  the  dust  of  the  earth,  and  He  is  the 
greatest  Judge  of  the  earth,  yet  even  He  does  not  com- 
pel us  to  serve  Him  :  but  among  men^  who  are  so  frail, 
the  stronger  takes  the  weaker  by  force,  and  binds  them 
slaves,  and  murders  them. 

These  views  I  have  not  got  since  I  left  the  South ; 
they  were  in  me  all  the  time  I  was  there.  I  have  often 
tried  to  love  my  minister  and  brethren  in  Pokaroan 
church,  but  when  I  heard  them  say,  "  Do  unto  others 
as  ye  would  that  others  should  do  unto  you,"  and  saw 
what  they  were  doing  to  their  own  brethren  in  Christ, 
I  thought  with  the  disciples,  "  Who,  then,  can  be 
saved  ?  "  I  never  knew  in  all  my  living  in  the  South, 
a  colored  man  to  separate  a  family  of  whites  by  sale  or 
in  any  way,  but  have  often  known  this  to  be  done  by 
the  whiteS. 


HENRY  JACKSON. 

I  was  born  free  at  Chatham  Four  Corners,  N.  Y. 
State.    I  was  sent  to  school  and  learned  to  read  and 


'  ■;,■»»;   ■ 
,;■■■!  sS-: 

m 


m, 


ifi 


92 


THE  refugee:  or  a 


write.  My  parents  were  free  at  the  time  of  my  birth, 
but  had  been  slaves  under  the  old  laws  of  New  York. 
At  about  the  age  of  sixteen,  my  father  bound  me  out 

to  a  man  named  G ,  to  remain  till  twenty-one,  then 

to  receive  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.     G went 

to  California,  where  he  remained  over  a  year,  and  thea 
came  back  for  his  wife  and  children  and  me  to  take  usJ 
to  that  State.  Then  I  went  with  him  by  railway  and 
ly  water:  the  vessel  was  a  steamer,  —  took  us  into 
some  port,  the  name  of  which  I  do  not  know ;  there 

G and  another  man  came  on  board,  and  asked  me 

to  go  up  into  the  town,  —  it  was  a  middling-sized  town. 
They  took  me  to  an  auction  room  where  were  other 
colored  people,  and  I  was  sold  at  auction  to  the  high- 
est bidder  for  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  I  thought 
it  a  strange  transaction,  but  I  felt  that  I  was  in  their 
power,  —  I  was  among  strangers,  had  no  friends  there, 
knew  it  would  be  of  no  use  to  remonstrate,  and  so  said 
nothing.  A  man  by  the  name  of  W.  K.  S.  bought  me. 
I  saw  no  papers  passed,  —  there  might  have  been.  S. 
said,  "  You  are  in  my  hands  now,  and  you  must  obey 
my  orders."     I  answered  him  nothing,  —  did  not  say  a 

word  to  him.     As  soon  as  I  was  sold,  G left,  and 

I  have  not  seen  him  since.  I  was  taken  into  S.'s  fam- 
ily, and  went  to  work  for  him  and  the  family,  doing 
house- work,  errands,  etc.  I  was  treated  kindly,  —  had 
enough  of  every  thing,  —  his  son  gave  me  a  little 
change  occasionally.  My  mind  was  all  the  iStme  occu- 
pied by  the  thought  of  my  freedom,  and  I  made  up  my 
mind  to  escape  on  the  first  opportunity.  I  said  nothing 
to  Mr.  S.  about  my  past  life  :  he  never  said  any  thing 
about  setting  me  free.  Whether  he  knew  it  was  ille- 
gal for  G to  sell  me,  I  do  not  know.     I  had  some 

fears  in  regard  to  running  away — fears  that  something 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW   OF  SLAVERY. 


93 


—  I  coqid  not  tell  what  —  would  be  done  with  me.    Ai'"^- 
last  I  started  on  foot  for  Philadelphia,  which  I  reached 
in  due  time,  without  any  trouble  on  the  way,  except 
being  worn  out  with  fatigue. 

I  did  not  travel  about  much  while  in  slavery :  but 
from  my  own  experience  of  it,  and  from  what  I  have 
seen,  I  pronounce  it  a  very  great  curse. 

I  think  G ^'s  conduct  is  mean.     I  think  it  would 

be  a  good  thing  for  him  to  be  sold  for  a  few  years  down 
South,  —  I  think  that  by  the  time  he  had  been  there 
five  years,  he  would  be  glad  to  set  all  the  slaves  free. 

I  think  it  necessary  for  all  free  people  of  color  to  be 
on  their  guard. 

I  had  the  privilege  of  going  to  ihurch  every  Sunday. 
I  belonged  to  the  Methodist  church  before  I  went  away, 
as  did  my  father  and  mother.  Mr.  S.  was  a  member 
of  the  same  church  w^ith  myself, — we  heard  the  same 
preaching  and  sat  at  the  same  communion  table.  The 
colored  people  partook  after  the  others  had  done.  I 
have  not  seen  S.  since  I  came  away,  and  have  no  de- 
sire to  see  him. 


i^i=KJ.«lV.'^^ 


'  mi 


m:^y'k 


/ 


TORONTO. 


If!!|!'i 


\J^HE  population  of  this  wealthy,  enterprising,  and 
beautiful  city  is  estimated  at  forty-seven  thousand,  of 
whom  about  one  thousand  are  colored  persbnsy  Of 
these  no  separate  count  is  made  in  taking  the  census. 
The  greater  part  of  the  colored  people  reside  in  the 
north-western  section  of  the  city.  Their  houses  resem- 
ble those  of  the  same  class  of  persons  in  St.  Catharines: 
but  as  they  have  not  generally  so  extensive  gardens, 
more  time  can  be  allotted  to  the  beautifying  and  gen- 
eral care  of  their  dwellings  than  in  St.  Catharines. 

Many  of  the  colored  people  own  the  houses  in  which 
they  dwell,  and  some  have  acquired  valuable  estates. 
No  distinction  exists  in  Toronto,  in  regard  to  school 
privileges.  (^  One  of  the  students  in  the  Normal  School 
was  a  fugitive  slave,  and  colored  youths  are  attending 
lectures  in  the  University.'x  There  are  three  churches 
exclusively  belonging  to  the  colored  people  —  a  Bap- 
tist and  two  Methodist  churches.  They  are  excluded, 
however,  from  nonu  of  the  churches,  and  in  all  of  them 
a  few  of  the  African  race  may  be  found. 

The  colored  people  in  Toronto  are,  on  the  whole,  re- 
markably industrious.  Their  condition  is  such  as  to 
gratify  the  philanthropist,  and  to  afford  encouragement 
to  the  friends  of  emancipation  everywhere.     A  portion 

(94) 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


95 


of  them  attstain  a  'y  im  or  debating  club  (which  is 
attended  by  both  se  .a)  where  debates  are  held,  and 
original  essays  are  read.  A  large  majority  of  the  adult 
colored  people  are  refugees  from  the  South.  Several 
of  these  furnished  their  testimony  in  regard  to  the  insti- 
tution under  whose  fostering  care  they  were  reared. 
They  gave  their  statements  readily  and  with  every  ap- 
pearance of  truth.  Their  evidence  is  as  reliable  as  any 
which  can  be  obtained.  No  longer  dreading  the  lash, 
they  are  free  to  utter  their  real  sentiments,  and  to  com- 
municate their  actual  experiences.  Some  of  the  details 
would  appear  too  shocking  for  credence,  were  it  not  ad- 
mitted on  all  hands,  that  the  only  limit  to  the  cruelty 
of  a  mean,  ill-tempered,  virtually  irresponsible  tyrant,  ia 
the  capacity  for  suffering  with  which  the  victims  of  his 
malignity  may  be  endowed. 

Those  who  have  been  most  cruelly  treated  and  un- 
justly used,  are  most  likely  to  undertake  an  escape. 
Those  who  have  succeeded  in  the  undertaking,  there- 
fore, may  fairly  be  expected  to  give  a  very  dark  picture. 
Ought  slavery  then,  as  a  whole,  to  be  condemned  by 
the  evidence  they  present?  We  answer,  that  every 
fllave  is  liable  to  the  same  maltreatment  and  abuse 
from  which  the  fugitives  in  Canada  have  escaped ;  and 
that  an  institution  which  holds  such  liabilities  over  the 
heads  of  millions,  and  inflicts  the  most  enormous  evils 
on  many  thousands,  might  as  well  be  set  aside. 

Again,  in  forming  a  judgment  of  slavery  as  to  its 
merits  and  demerits,  this  testimony  should  receive  at 
least  as  much  weight  as  a  class  of  anecdotes  so  readily 
chronicled,  and  so  widely  circulated,  of  individual  slaves 
who  have  manifested  great  attachment  to  their  masters, 
or  refused  to  receive  their  freedom.  The  excellence 
of  pious  masters  who  exhort  and  pray  with  their  slaves 


S:         - 

U.,u 

% 

.* ;  -  ■ 

w 

I 

"■.*"■ 

li" 

•  -    .-'.     ^.»tn 

|: 

1  ■    :■« 

li 

96 


,/ 


THE  refuqee;  or  a 


from  the  best  of  motives,  is  also  deemed  worthy  of 
record;  and  if  from  such  anecdotes,  of  slaves  loving 
slavery,  and  of  the  kindness  of  some  masters,  inferences 
are  drawn  favorable  to  the  continuance  of  slavery,  facts  , 
of  the  opposite  class,  although  it  is  a  more  ungrateful 
task  to  expose  them,  ought  also  to  be  fully  stated,  lest 
humanity  and  benevolence  be  lulled  to  sleep  over  evils 
which  they  should  do  their  utmost  to  remove. 

Let  it  not  be  understood,  however,  that  in  this  work 
we  intend  to  make  a  selection  of  the  most  atrocious 
cases  of  abuse.  Any  instances  of  kind,  self-sacrificing 
masters,  or  humane,  benevolent  overseers,  will  be  men- 
tioned at  greater  length  and  in  greater  fulness  than 
those  of  opposite  character,  to  relieve,  if  possible,  the  i 
canvas  which  truth  is  reluctantly  obliged  to  crowd 
"  with  bitter  and  with  black." 

What  is  here  incidentally  said  in  regard  to  the  narra- 
tives of  the  fugitives  in  Toronto,  applies  with  equal 
force  to  all  statements  of  fugitives  in  Canada  West  in 
this  work. 


CHARLES  HENEY  GREEN. 

I  was  a  slave  in  Delaware  from  birth,  until  twenty- 
three  years  of  age :  am  now  twenty-four.  I  never  had 
any  religious  or  other  instruction  from  my  master.  I 
picked  up  a  knowledge  of  reading,  and  some  religious 
knowledge  among  people  where  I  was  hired  out.  I 
was   well   used  —  have   been  hit  over  the  head  with 


chunks  of  wood,  ■ 


hit  over  the  back  Vv'ith  a  pitchfork 


handle,  but  was  never  whipped  with  a  cowskin. 


\ 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


07 


Slavery  is  horrid.     I  think  if  the  slaves  were  set  free, 
they  would  readily  go  to  work  fgr  money. 


-~yiift>'i, 


JAMES  W.  SUMLER. 

Arrived  in  Canada,  March  3,  1855.  I  came  from 
Norfolk,  Va. ;  was  in  bondage  twenty-six  years.  I  was 
not  sent  to  school  —  never.  My  first  master  and  mis- 
tress gave  me  no  religious  instruction  at  all,  nor  any 
other.  I  learned  to  read :  the  way  w^is,  I  hid  in  a  hay- 
loft on  Sunday,  and  got  the  younger  white  children  to 
teach  me.  I  bought  the  book  with  a  ninepence  that  a 
man  gave  me  for  holding  his  horse. 

My  master  was  a  Methodist.  I  used  to  get  his  horse 
ready,  and  hold  him  when  master  was  going  to  meeting, 
but  he  never  asked  me  to  go.  At  twelve  years,  my  first 
master  died  and  I  was  hired  out.  I  was  put  to  work 
in  a  lumber-yard.  I  generally  had  enough  to  eat,  but 
was  sometimes  short  for  clothes. 

My  second  master  and  mistress  never  gave  me  any 
invstruction  about  God,  and  Christ,  and  the  Bible :  they 
used  to  object  to  my  going  to  meetings.  It  was  noth- 
ing but  come  and  go.  They  were  Methodists.  I  was 
never  punished  very  severely,  but  I  have  seen  servants 
of  the  same  family  punished  in  various  ways.  I  have 
seen  them  tied  down,  stripped  bare,  and  struck  with 
the  paddle,  bored  with  auger  holes,  until  they  could  n't 
walk  straight.  This  was  because  they  did  not  perform 
the  tasks  assigned  them.  I  consider  the  tasks  given 
them  were  such  they  could  not  perform  them.  I  have 
seen  them  tied  up  and  whipped  until  the  blood  ran 

9 


.h.'l. 

7- 

rili 


98 


/ 


THE  refugee:  or  a 


down  to  the  ground.  I  have  seen  a  man  —  Elick 
Smith  —  so  badly  whipped  with  the  cobble  and  cow- 
hide, that  he  could  not  lie  down  any  way.  The  use 
of  brine  after  whipping  is  very  common. 

After  I  got  to  years  of  maturity,  and  saw  the  white 
people  sitting  in  the  shade,  while  I  worked  in  the  sun, 
I  "thought  I  would  like  to  be  my  own  man.  The  first 
that  started  me  was,  they  sold  my  brother  down  south, 
and  I  have  not  seen  him  since.  I  thought  my  chance 
would  come  next,  and  so  I  put  out. 

A  white  man  —  a  Baptist,  used  to  preach  to  us.  The 
white  people  took  the  communion  in  the  morning,  and 
we  took  it  in  the  evening.  The  minister  used  to  tell 
us  not  to  be  disorderly  on  taking  the  sacrament  —  I 
thought  he  was  disorderly  himself,  for  he  kept  slaves. 

I  left  home  at  2  p.  M.,  and  walked  a  very  considerable 
distance.  Then  I  saw  fit  to  remain  concealed  nine 
months.  Meanwhile  I  was  advertised,  and  a  reward 
of  $200  was  offered  for  me.  On  seeing  this  I  felt 
somewhat  troubled  in  mind,  —  at  last  I  started,  but  I 
had  to  run  back  to  my  hiding-place.  A  second  time  I 
got  very  near  a  place  where  I  would  have  been  safe, 
but  I  was  pursued,  and  had  again  to  put  back.  A  third 
time  I  was  successful. 

I  enjoy  myself  here  more  than  I  did  in  slavery.  I 
believe  that  liberty  is  the  true  and  proper  state  for  the 
colored  man,  and  for  every  man.  I  came  here  with 
nothing.  I  think  I  can  make  a  living  here,  and  am 
disposed  to  try.  I  left  slavery  with  the  expectation 
that  I  would  have  to  work,  and  I  am  glad  to  get  work. 

I  look  upon  slavery  as  wrong,  and  as  a  curse  upon 
the  masters.  I  do  not  believe  that  there  is  any  religion 
in  the  masters.  The  slaves  are  not  religious  in  conse- 
quence  of  slavery ;  they  have  often  impediments  in  the 


\ 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OP  SLAVERY. 


99 


way  of  their  going  to  meetings.  I  believe  that  the 
slaveholders  know  that  that  they  are  guilty  in  holding 
slaves.  If  the  slaves  were  all  set  at  liberty,  I  think  it 
would  be  better  for  the  slaves  and  for  the  slaveholders 
too.     The  abolitionists  have  helped  me  a  great  deal. 


PATRICK   SNEAD. 


I  belonged  in  Savannah,  Georgia.  I  am  as  white  as 
my  master  was,  but  I  was  born  a  slave.  My  first  mas- 
ter dying,  I  fell  to  one  of  the  sons,  who  died  when  I 
was  about  fifteen.  He  was  a  sporting  character.  He 
had  always  promised  my  mother  to  give  me  my  free- 
dom at  some  time,  —  as  soon  as  I  could  take  care  of 
myself.  I  was  sent  to  school  a  little  while  by  mother, 
so  that  I  could  spell  quite  well,  —  but  I  have  lost  it  all. 
My  master  gave  me  no  religious  instruction,  but  I  was 
allowed  to  attend  a  Sunday  School  for  colored  children. 
I  was  put  to  the  cooper's  trade,  which  I  learned  in  five 
years.  While  my  master  lived  I  was  well  used.  But 
at  length  he  was  taken  sick  with  consumption ;  I  at- 
tended him,  and  took  care  of  him.  I  said  nothing  to 
him  about  my  freedom,  not  feeling  any  great  interest  in 
the  matter  at  that  time.  I  have  good  reason  to  believe 
that  he  was  persuaded  not  to  set  me  free.  At  length 
he  departed  this  life. 

After  his  death,  the  doctor's  bill  of  three  hundred 
dollars  had  to  be  satisfied  out  of  the  estate.  Other  prop- 
erty being  deficient,  I  was  given  up,  and  was  for  one 
day  the  property  of  the  physician.  I  was  then  sold  to 
a  wholesale  merchant  for  five  hundred  dollars.     The 


hAi 


'l    ,ii 


.1        ' 


""4 


I. 


f  1 


i 


>■« 


t 
^ 


\      - 


'1  ? 


100 


THB  refugee;  or  a 


merchant  employed  me  about  the  store  four  years ;  h6 
found  me  smarter  than  many  others,  and  I  had  to  work 
hard,  lifting  heavy  bales  of  goods.  This  lifting  caused 
me  to  wear  a  truss  some  time  before  I  left.  In  the  easi- 
est time  of  the  year,  the  summer,  my  working  hours 
were  from  6  in  the  morning  to  7  in  the  evening.  In  the 
fall  and  spring  I  worked  from  6  in  the  morning  until  12 
at  night,  the  bales  of  goods  being  openeu  in  the  night : 
in  the  winter  from  6  to  6.  I  had  plenty  of  fpod  and 
good  common  clothing.  The  merchant's  manner  of 
address  to  me  was  generally  pleasant :  I  had  the  priv- 
ilege of  going  to  church  on  Sundays,  if  I  pleased. 

He  never  on  Saturday  nights  allowed  me  any  money : 
I  liked  female  society  as  well  as  he  did,  and  wanted 
some  spending  money.  I  was  not  provoked  to  ask  for 
it  by  seeing  others  have  money,  but  I  felt  that  I  ought 
to  be  allowed  something  for  my  encouragement,  after 
performing  so  much  hard  labor.  His  answer  was,  that 
he  gave  me  enough  to  eat.  I  told  him  that  he  would 
have  to  sell  me,  "  for  to  work  in  this  way  I  shall  not." 
He  grinned  and  bore  it. 

About  a  year  before  this  I  had  been  attentive  to  a 
young  free-woman  who  lived  with  her  aunt.  One  even- 
ing, on  leaving,  the  aunt  cautioned  me  to  tell  Billy  (a 
boy  on  the  place)  to  fasten  the  gate  after  me,  as  the 
night  before  he  had  left  it  open.  Accordingly,  on  com- 
ing out,  I  said,  "  Billy,  be  careful  to  fasten  the  gate,  for 
you  did  not  fasten  it  the  night  before."  There  was,  as 
I  afterwards  learned,  a  white  man  concealed  behind  a 
tree  close  by,  —  he  heard  me,  and  fancied  that  what  I 
said  was  meant  to  hit  him  in  some  way ;  for  he  mean- 
while was,  unbeknown  to  me,  sustaining  a  peculiar 
relation  to  the  very  girl  that  I  was  visiting.  The  next 
day  that  man  said  he  would  buy  me,  if  it  cost  him  a 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


V 


101 


thousand  dollars,  so  that  he  could  give  me  a  hundred..^^ 
lashes.  My  master  heard  of  this  threat,  —  I  heard  of  it, 
and  believe  I  told  my  master.  Some  days  after  I  met 
the  man,  told  him  what  I  had  heard,  —  that  it  was  a 
mistake,  —  that  I  did  not  know  he  was  behind  the  tree, 
or  that  he  had  any  thing  to  do  with  the  person  I  was 
visiting,  and  that  I  would  not  be  in  his  way  any  further. 
So  it  blew  over.  ^ 

After  my  talk  with  my  master  about  the  money,  he, 
remembering  the  affair  just  mentioned,  went  to  that 
party,  and  offered  to  sell  me  to  him.  Then  the  same 
man  who  had  made  the  threat  to  buy  me,  asked  me  if 
I  was  willing  to  belong  to  him.  I  told  him  I  would  as 
lief  belong  to  him  as  to  anybody,  if  he  would  allow  me 
a  living  chance.  He  told  me  that  he  would  hire  me  out 
at  my  trade  of  coopering,  and  provide  me  with  tools. 
He  bought  me  —  giving  for  me  a  woman  and  two  chil- 
dren, and  a  hundred  dollars.  I  went  to  work  as  he  had 
promised.  My  task  was  eighteen  barrels  a  week :  I 
could  make  more  than  twice  as  many,  so  then  I  began 
to  have  money.     My  treatment  was  good. 

I  went  on  in  this  way  four  years ;  then  my  colored 
employer  was  going  to  Liberia,  with  a  ship  load  of  em- 
igrants—  free  people  of  color.  He  bade  me  goodby, 
and  shook  my  hands ;  at  this  I  felt  an  anxious  wish  to 
go  with  him,  and  from  that  moment  I  felt  what  liberty 
was.  I  then  told  him,  that  I  hoped  one  day  to  be  my 
own  man,  and  if  so,  that  I  wished  to  go  to  Liberia. 
He  said,  "  I  hope  so,  my  son."  He  had  baptized  me, 
and  was  pastor  of  the  church  to  which  I  belonged. 
After  he  left,  I  went  on  working  nearly  one  year  more, 
with  his  partner,  who  had  bought  him  out. 

During  this  time  my  desire  for  liberty  grew  stronger 
and  stronger.    I  had  spent  my  money  as  I  went  along. 


,^,<^ 


r  y»    U  ti     *^i  j 


102 


THE  befugee;  or  a 


My  master  refused  to  buy  me  new  tools  after  my  old 
ones  were  worn  out  —  said  I  dressed  better  than  he, 
and  must  buy  tools  for  myself.  I  thought  this  ought 
not  to  do,  and  I  made  up  my  mind,  "  it  sha'  n't  do 
either."  I  had  now  come  to  a  resolution,  and  I  started 
for  a  land  of  liberty.  I  left  in  July,  1851,  at  3  on  a 
Monday  morning.  I  reached  Canada  safely,  and  had 
no  difficulty  until  tvv'^o  years  had  elapsed.  Then  I  was 
employed  in  the  summer  of  1853  as  a  waiter  in  the  Cat- 
aract House,  on  the  American  "side  of  the  Falls.  Then 
a  constable  of  Buffalo  came  in,  on  Sunday  after  din- 
ner, and  sent  the  barkeeper  into  the  dining-room  for  me. 
I  went  into  the  hall,  and  met  the  constable,  —  I  had  my 
jacket  in  my  hand,  and  was  going  to  put  it  up.  He 
stepped  up  to  me.  "  Here,  Watson,"  (this  was  the  name 
I  assumed  on  escaping,)  "  you  waited  on  me,  and  I  '11 
give  you  some  change."  His  fingers  were  then  in  his 
pocket,  and  he  dropped  a  quarter  dollar  on  the  floor.  I 
told  him,  "  I  have  not  waited  on  you  —  you  must  be 
mistaken  in  the  man,  and  I  don 't  want  another  waiter's 
money."  He  approached,  —  I  suspected,  and  stepped 
back  toward  the  dining-room  door.  By  that  time  he 
made  a  grab  at  me,  caught  me  by  the  collar  of  my 
shirt  and  vest,  —  then  four  more  constables,  he  had 
brought  with  him,  sprung  on  me,  —  they  dragged  me 
to  the  street  door  —  there  was  a  jam  —  I  hung  on  by 
the  doorway.  The  head  constable  shackled  my  left 
hand.  T  had  on  a  new  silk  cravat  twice  round  my 
neck;  he  hung  on  to  this,  twisting  it  till  my  tongue 
lolled  out  of  my  mouth,  but  he  could  not  start  me 
through  the  door.  By  this  time  the  waiters  pushed 
through  the  crowd, — there  were  three  hundred  visitors 
there  at  the  time,  —  and  Smith  and  Grave,  colored 
waiters,  caught  me  by  the  hands,  —  then  the  others 


NORTH-SIDB 


VIEW  OP  SLAVERT. 


103 


came  on,  and  dragged  me  from  th&  officers  by  mf 
force.  They  dragged  me  over  chairs  and  every  thing, 
down  to  the  ferry  way.  I  got  into  the  cars,  and  the 
waiters  were  lowering  me  down,  when  the  constables 
came  and  stopped  them,  saying,  "  Stop  that  murderer!" 
—  they  called  me  a  murderer !  Then  I  was  dragged 
down  the  steps  by  the  waiters,  and  flung  into  the  ferry 
boat.  The  boatmen  rowed  me  to  within  fifty  feet  of 
the  Canada  shore  —  into  Canada  water  —  when  the 
head  boatman  in  the  other  boat  gave  the  word  to  row 
back.  They  did  accordingly,  —  but  they  could  not  land 
me  at  the  usual  place  oh  account  of  the  waiters.  So 
they  had  to  go  down  to  Suspension  Bridge ;  they  landed 
me,  opened  a  way  through  the  crowd  —  shackled  me, 
pushed  me  into  a  carriage,  and  away  we  went.  The 
head  constable  then  asked  me  "  if  I  knew  any  person  in 
Lockport."  I  told  him  "no."  Then,  "In  Buffalo?" 
«  No."  "  Well,  then,"  said  he,  "  let 's  go  to  Buffalo  — 
Lockport  is  too  far."  We  reached  Buffalo  at  ten  o'clock 
at  night,  when  I  was  put  in  jail.     I  told  the  jailer  I 

wished  he  would  be  so  good  as  to  tell  lawyer to 

come  round  to  the  jail.     Mr. came,  and  I  engaged 

him  for  my  lawyer.  When  the  constables  saw  that, 
pretending  to  know  no  one  in  Buffalo,  I  had  engaged 
one  of  the  best  lawyers  in  the  place,  they  were  aston- 
ished. I  told  them  that  "  as  scared  as  they  thought  I 
was,  I  wanted  them  to  know  that  I  had  my  senses 
about  me."  The  court  was  not  opened  until  nine  days ; 
the  tenth  day  my  trial  commenced.  The  object  was,  to 
show  some  evidence  as  if  of  murder,  so  that  they  could 
take  me  to  Baltimore.  On  the  eleventh  day  the  claim- 
ant was  defeated,  and  I  was  cleared  at  10,  a.  m.  After 
I  was  cleared,  and  while  I  was  yet  in  the  court  room,  a 
telegraphic  despatch  came  from  a  Judge  in  Savannah} 


HI 


^^.. 


n 


IH^' 


-w 

^  t.^S3^tt 

wihj 

'"-^^Hs 

i^MH 

hW^' 

1   ''H^H^Xff 

HHi^^^HB< 

m 


^: 


104 


Tin!  refugee;  or  a 


^/«ayi  .^  that  .  v  "^  no  mur(h^t**r,  but  a  fugitive  slave. 
Howev  before  u  ♦^w  wnrranf  ;  ^mld  be  got  out,  I  was 
in  a  carriage  and  on  uiy  way.  I  croHsed  over  into  Can- 
ada,      *  walked  thirty  miles  to  the  Clifton  House. 

%iiib  'foke  lip  my  sumui  r's  work  at  the  Falls,  and 
threw  m  ''•ack  ;  and  as  I  had  to  pay  money  to  my  law- 
yer, I  have  haiill  y  got  over  it  yet. 

There  is  great  difference  in  the  modes  of  treating 
slaves  on  the  plantations,  according  to  the  character  of 
the  owners,  —  I  have  seen  enough  of  slave  life  to  know 
this,  and  I  have  seen  slaves  in  Savannah  used  as  badly 
as  any  on  the  plantation.  I  saw  a  man  in  Savannah, 
who  had  been  whipped  severely,  and  thrust  into  a  dark 
hole  or  dungeon  in  a  cellar.  The  maggots  got  in  his 
flesh,  and  he  was  offensive  to  the  sense  in  consequence. 
When  they  turned  him  out,  I  saw  the  man,  and  saw  the 
maggots  in  his  flesh.     I  knew  a  Methodist  minister,  on 

Street,  who  had  a  colored  woman  for  cook.   Some- 

,  thing  which  her  mistress  told  her  to  cook  did  not  suit. 
The  mistress  complained  to  the  mirr^'er;  he  shut  up 
the  cook  in  a  stable  or  barn  and  beat  her,  having  first 
tied  something  over  her  mouth. 

At  one  time,  I  resided  with  the  family  in  the  jail- 
building.  While  there,  I  used  to  see  whipping,  five  or 
six  a  day,  or  more,  with  a  large  cowskin.  It  is  the 
most  cominon  thing  in  the  -world  to  have  them  whip- 
ped in  the  juU,  —  that  will  be  no  news  in  Savannah,  — 
not  over  thirty-nine  lashes  in  one  day,  by  law.  Some 
times  slaves  are  whipped  in  the  guard-louse. 

I  consider  that  the  slaves  in  Savannah,  where  I  w^.,:J 
born  and  raised,  are  poor  ignorant  creatures :  they  don't 
know  their  condition.  It  is  ignorance  that  keeps  them 
there.  If  they  Tew  what  I  know,  they  could  not  be 
kept  there  a  njv'!i:i     U    Jj  /o  a  man  escape,  and  have  but 


•"w 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


\^  lof  • 


a  month's  freedom,  and  he  will   feel  the  greatest  aiii*^     -*- 
mosity  against  slavery.     I  can't  give  Hlavcry  any  name 
or  description  bad  enough  for  it. 


CHARLES  PEYTON  LUCAS.    ' 

My  nnino  ia  slavery  was  Peyton  Lucas;  I  changed 
my  'larne  in  running,  to  Charles  Bentley. 

1  wat.  raised  in  Leesburg,  Loudon  county,  Va.  My 
VJiaster  never  sent  me  to  school,  nor  gave  me  any  in- 
struction from  the  Bible,  excepting  one  passage  of 
Scripture  which  he  used  to  quote  to  me,, — "  He  that 
knoweth  his  master's  will,  and  doeth  it  not,  shall  be 
beaten  with  many  stripes."  He  was  a  Baptist  Minister 
—  and  after  he  had  quoted  the  text,  he  would  take  me 
to  the  barn-yard  and  give  me  a  practical  explanation 
with  raw  hides.  My  mistress  used  to  beat  me  over  the 
head  with  a  dairy  key  about  as  big  as  a  child's  fist. 

I  was  kept  mostly  at  the  quarters  until  twelve  or 
thirteen,  wearing  nothing  in  the  summer  but  a  coarse 
crocus  shirt.  Many  a  time  have  I  taken  it  by  the  two 
ends,  and  pulled  it  round  a  post  to  break  down  the 
sticks.  When  I  was  taken  to  the  house,  my  mistress 
used  to  find  fault  with  me  before  him.  "  Oh,  I  can't 
stand  this ! "  Then  he  would  give  me  a  kick  or  two  in 
the  house,  then  take  ine  to  the  barn-yard,  and  finish  it 
off  with  the  cowskin.(  Both  before  and  after,  he  would 
reason  with  me,  —  "  now,  you  know  better  than  to  ag- 
gravate your  mistress  as  you  do,  for  you  've  often  heard 
me  read,  "  He  that  knoweth,"  etc.  I  used  to  hear  him 
preach.     While  the  whipping  was  going  on  and  he  was 


sjj 


tfta 

1    'm' 


Ill 


i  ■'■'»; 


/ 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


■A: 


•  t  ", 


m 


^  ,  quoting  Scripture,  I  thought  of  another  way,  —  I  yelled 

until  the  people  and  children  climbed  up  and  looked 

wover  the  fence  or  peeped  through,  to  see  what  was  go- 

ft  -      ^ing  on:  so  he  gave  it  up. J  Then  he  gave  me  a  note  to 

carry  to  the  overseer,  and  he  followed  after  me.     I  went 

^,        a  short  way,  delivered  the  note  and  was  off  before  he 

^'         got  there.     He  appeared  to  feel  ashamed  that  I  had 

^         circumvented  him.     Thus  things  went  on  for  a  year  or 

"    '      two.     My  mother  and  myself  came  by  the  mistress,  — 

my  master  thought  more  of  his  slaves  than  of  her's. 

One  day  my  brother  was  playing  with  one  of  the 
boys  of  his  side  of  the  house.  There  was  a  dog  there, 
which,  when  you  said,  "  Help,  Bull,"  would  take  hold  of 
anybody.  My  brother  said  "  Help,  Bull,"  and  the  dog 
nipped  the  other  boy.  On  the  next  morning,  Saturday, 
the  overseer,  a  good  Baptist  brother,  told  my  master  of 
^  the  fray,  whereupon  he  dismounted,  (he  was  just  starting 

for  a  place  where  he  was  to  preach  next  day,)  tied  up  the 
boy,  and  laid  twenty-five  lashes  on  his  bare  back  with 
^  a  cowskin  :  then  he  turned  to  the  overseer, — my  mother 

was  there  and  heard  him,  —  "  Brother ,  take  your 

satisfaction  out  of  the  dog,  (meaning  my  brother,)  and 
then  let  him  down."  Upon  this,  he  mounted  his  horse 
^  and  went  off  a  preaching.  At  night,  my  brother  went 
to  the  stable,  took  the  halter  from  a  very  valuable 
horse,  broke  or  divided  it,  leaving  the  pieces  on  the 
floor,  and  broke  the  doors,  to  make  it  appear  that  the 
horse  had  got  loose ;  then  he  took  the  horse  and  ran 
away.  Being  a  wagoner,  and  well  acquainted,  he  was 
accosted  by  flour  merchants  on  his  way,  about  bringing 
flour  on  the  morrow.  He  rode  that  horse  forty  miles 
before  daylight.  He  got  off*  clear.  My  master  recov- 
ered his  horse  in  Baltimore,  after  a  fieat  dsal  of  trouble. 
He  then  stamped  his  foot  in  anger,  and  told  us  all  to 


Iv 


* 


w- 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP   SLAVERY. 


107 


go.     He  had,  some  little  time  before  this,  sold  my  othei 
brother,  my  sister,  and  her  two  children  into  Georgia. 

At  fifteen,  I  was  hired  out  to  the  blacksmithing  busi-  ^' 
ness,  I  served  at  it  five  years,  and  was  then  hired  out  * 
as  a  journeyman,  my  Reverend  master  taking  my  wa- 
ges. I  worked  out  five  or  six  years,  and  was  well  fed, 
well  clothed,  and  well  used.  I  enjoyed  life  then  very 
well,  and. had  many  privileges  :  nor  did  I  run  away  for 
either  fear  of  my  master,  or  of  the  man  I  lived  with, 
nor  in  consequence  of  ill  treatment. 

My  sister  worked  in  the  hoube  vrhere  I  lived.  My 
master  had  come  into  the  shop  where  I  worked,  bring- 
ing a  stranger  with  him,  and  they  had  talked  with  my 
emploj'er.  On  inquiry  of  her,  she  told  me  that  the 
stranger  had  dined  there,  and  that  while  she  was  clear- 
ing away  the  table,  she  heard  master  say,  "  I  won't 
take  less  than  fifteen  hundred  dollars ;  he  is  a  first-rate 
blacksmith."  We  knew  it  meant  me,  as  I  was  the 
only  blacksmith  on  the  place.     This  was  in  1841. 

In  one  week's  time  I  started  for  the  North  with  two 
companions  ;  but  it  was  cock-crowing  before  we  reached 
the  Potomac ;  so  we  went  on  a  hill,  and  hid  until  the 
next  (Sunday)  night.  Then  we  came  down,  and  tied 
our  provisions  into  bundles  on  our  backs,  and  started 
for  Potomac  river,  —  whether  to  wade  it,  swim  it,  or 
get  drowned,  we  knew  not.  We  waded  and  swam, 
changing  our  ground  as  the  water  deepened.  At  last 
we  reached  the  opposite  bank  in  Maryland  :  we  merely 
stopped  to  pour  the  water  out  of  our  boots,  and  then 
travelled  on  all  wet,  until  morning :  then  we  hid  in  the 
bushes.  We  travelled  by  night  and  concealed  ourselves 
by  day,  for  ten  days  and  nights,  suffering  greatly  from 
hunger  and  from  rain,  without  shelter.  One  day  in 
September,  we  sat  on  a  mountain,  exposed  to  a  hot, 


W^' 


•/ 


ti. 


immi^''''' 


108 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


^broiling  sun,  and  without  food  or  drink.  We  could  hear 
people  at  their  work  about  us,  but  we  did  not  dare  ask 
for  aid.  For  three  days,  we  had  neither  food  nor  drink, 
excepting  green  corn.  We  sucked  the  juice  for  drink, 
and  the  corn  itself  was  our  only  food.  The  effect  of 
this  was  to  weaken  us  very  much.  ' 

One  night  we  came  to  a  farmer's  spring-house,  —  I 
broke  the  lock  and  got  a  good  pan  of  milk,  but  before 
I  could  find  any  thing  else,  the  dogs  began  to  bark,  so 
that  we  had  to  hurry  off".  We  quaffed  the  milk  with  a 
good  relish  and  it  did  us  a  deal  of  service.  We  drank 
at  times  muddy  water  from  horse  tracks  :  on  one  occa- 
sion, we  were  run  very  severely  by  dogs  and  men,  but 
we  got  away  from  them.  One  morning  between  two 
and  four  o'clock,  we  came  to  a  white  man  tending  a 
lime-kiln,  —  he  was  -asleep.  We  knew  nothing  of  the 
way ;  so  we  concluded  to  awaken  him,  and  ask  the 
way,  and  if  he  tried  to  stop  us,  or  have  us  caught,  that 
we  would  kill  him  and  throw  him  into  the  kiln.  We 
awoke  him  and  told  him  that  our  harvesting  was  done, 
and  we  were  hunting  for  work,  as  we  had  two  days  to 
work  in.  He  did  not  believe  it, — said  we  were  runaways. 
I  took  out  my  pistol,  cocked  and  capped  it,  and  the 
others  produced,  one  a  bayonet,  and  the  other  a  bowie 
knife.  The  man  approached  us,  saying  still  we  were 
runaways.  Had  he  offered  to  touch  us  we  would  have 
killed  him,  but  he  proved  to  be  the  best  friend  we  had 
ever  had.  He  told  us  our  way,  and  regretted  that  he 
had  no  food.  Said  he,  "  If  you  travel  on,  by  day-light 
you  will  cross  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  and  get  among 
the  Dutch.  Keep  away  from  the  big  road,  walk  near 
it,  but  not  in  it,  —  walk  in  the  daytime,  but  keep  in 
the  woods."  We  followed  his  directions,  and  at  ten 
o'clock,  next  morning,  we  reached  a  Dutchman's  house. 


# 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


109 


The  man  was  out,  —  but  the  woman  and  girls  set  the 
table.  We  ate  all  they  had  in  the  house,  —  I  ate  till  I 
was  ashamed.  The  good  woman  told  us  to  avoid 
Shippensburg,  as  six  had  been  carried  back  from  there 
just  before.  She  told  us,  if  anybody  questioned  us,  to 
say  that  we  were  going  to  Horse  Shoe  Bottom  camp 
meeting  on  the  Susquehanna.  We  did  accordingly, 
and  soon  struck  the  track  of  the  underground  railroad, 
which  we  followed  into  the  northern  free  States. 

At ,  I  went  to  work  on  a  building.     One  day 

a  druggist  came  to  me,  and  said  an  advertisement  de- 
scribing me  was  in  the  tavern,  —  "tawny  colored  man, 
tall,  spare,  and  of  a  pleasing  countenance  when  spoken 
to,  and  he  works  at  blacksmithing.  No  scars  recol- 
lected, except  one  on  his  neck.  Any  person  wMI>  will 
return  him  to  me,  or  lodge  him  in  jail,  so  that  I  can 
get  him,  shall  have  a  reward  of  five  hundred  dollars." 
My  friends  advised  me  to  remove  further.  I  worked 
in  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  until  the  passage  of  the  fugitive 
slave  law,  when  my  friends  advised  me  to  go  to  Can- 
ada, with  which  advice  I  complied,  at  a  great  sacrifice, 
on  account  of  some  property  which  I  was  trying  to 
buy.  '■ ' 

I  feel  that  I  am  out  of  the  lion's  paw,  and  I  feel  that 

THERE  IS  NO   CURSE  ON  God'S  EARTH,  EQUAL  TO  SLAVERY. 

I  think  that  emancipation  ought  to  be  so  arranged, 
as  that  the  sick  and  infirm  should  be  taken  care  of  by 
those  who  have  had  the  benefit  of  their  labor.  Provis- 
ion for  education  ought  also  to  be  made.  It  would 
take  a  generation  to  accomplish  this  :  but  the  practical 
mode  of  emancipating  ought  to  be  planned  by  the 
South.  ^     * 


10 


"^VSw 


^,"%1f 


rffe 


J  -♦ 


110 


THK  REFUaEEJ  OH  A 


BENEDICT  DUNCAN.         ■  , 

I  was  a  slave  in  Maryland,  twenty-eight  years.  My  , 
father  taught  me  my  letters,  and  I  had  sometimes  the 
privilege  of  going  to  the  Sunday  school,  where  I  was 
further  taught  by  a  white  teacher,  and  I  read  through  a 
spelling-book.  My  father  had  a  few  other  books  and 
I  had  help  from  him  in  learning  to  read  them.  I  re- 
ceived religious  instruction  in  the  Sunday  school.  My 
master  and  mistress  belonged  to  the  Presbyterian 
church,  but  never  gave  me  any  insight  into  their  doc- 
trines. I  became  a  Methodist.  My  master  had  no 
overseer,  —  was  boss  himself.  We  considered  him  not  V 
so  good  as  the  generality  of  masters.  Sometimes  I 
did  not  get  enough  to  eat,  nor  have  clothes  enough  to 
make  me  comfortable.  I  could  get  straw  enough,  but 
I  never  had  any  bed,  —  wore  the  same  clothes  at  night 
that  I  wore  by  day,  the  whole  week.  The  other  hands 
were  not  so  well  used,  —  the  truth  is,  I  was  rather 
ahead  of  them.  They  used  to  get  whipped  with  hick- 
ories or  a  club  :  I  never  had  any  severe  punishment. 

I  left  through  fear  of  being  sold,  as  my  master's  busi- 
ness was  going  down  hill.  I  experienced  no  trouble  in 
getting  off.  I  walked  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  of 
the  way.  I  remained  in  the  States  four  months  and 
then  came  over  here  a  short  time  since. 

I  had  rather  have  a  day  free,  than  a  week  of  life  in 
slavery  :  I  think  slavery  is  the  worst  evil  that  ever  was. 


// 


?%'    : 


i. 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OP   SLAVERY. 


WILLIAM  HOWARD. 


'■r  ' 


111 


I  was  raised  in  Baltimore  county,  Md.  —  was  a  slave 
from  birth,  until  twenty-seven  years  old.  I  had  no 
master,  —  my  mistress  was  a  widow  lady.  She  gave 
me  no  religious  instruction,  neither  taught  me  to  read 
nor  write  —  did  n't  want  I  should  know  any  such  thing 
as  that.  She  was  kind  to  me,  but  I  did  n't  hardly 
thank  her  for  it.  I  hired  my  time,  giving  her  seven 
dollars  a  month,  although  I  could  earn  a  great  deal 
more.  The  reason  she  did  this  was,  she  was  afraid  I 
would  come  away :  she  never  sold  any  of  her  servants. 
I  married  a  free-woman,  and  had  two  children  there. 
My  mistress  died,  and  I  was  told  that  the  farm  was  to 
be  sold.  Upon  this,  I  came  away,  and  had  no  diffi- 
culty in  doing  so.     My  wife  and  children  followed. 

I  stopped  a  while  in  the  free  States,  but  came  here 
on  account  of  my  friends  being  here.  I  did  not  feel 
concerned  as  regards  the  fugitive  slave  law.  ; 

Slavery  made  the  colored  people  where  I  lived,  very 
unhappy.  One  thing  was,  they  did  not  get  enough  to 
eat  or  to  wear  —  some  I  knew  did  not.  I  have  known 
that  if  some  were  not  at  work  by  daylight,  they  were 
tied  up  and  received  a  hundred  and  fifty  lashes  with  a 
raw  hide,  and  then  had  brine  put  on  their  backs,  and  an 
iron  yoke  put  on  their  necks  afterward,  for  fear  they 
would  run  away.  Frequently  they  would  have  no  bed 
to  lie  on.  Sometimes  when  a  young  man  and  woman 
were  attached  to  each  other,  the  masters  would  inter- 
fere, and,  may  be,  would  sell  one  of  the  parties.  I  have 
known  children  to  be  dragged  away  from  their  parents, 
and  wives  from  their  husbands :  that 's  no  new  thing 


'-■'\r%f 


r 


i 
i 


1j 


•if, 


ii. 


k 

'1! 


112  THE  refugee;  or  a 

to  me.  Cj  knew  one  m'an  who  had  children  by  his  slave, 
a  yellow  girl,  and  then  sold  his  own  childrenX 

My  opinion  is,  that  the  yoke  ought  to  be  taken  from  , 
every  man,  and  that  every  one  should  be  loosed.  It  •> 
looks  quite  strange  to  me  when  I  look  back  into  the 
country  where  I  was  born,  and  see  the  state  of  things 
there.  If  they  would  set  the  slaves  free,  they  would  go 
to  work  and  make  a  living.  If  any  people  can  make  a 
living  they  can.  All  they  want  is  a  little  education, 
and  something  to  start  upon.  I  do  not  think  the  mas- 
ters would  incur  any  danger  by  setting  the  slaves  free. 
I  thought  it  honorable  to  carry  to  my  mistress  the 
money  I  earned :  it  seems  to  me  now  that  she  was  not 
honorable  in  taking  it,  if  I  was  in  giving  it.  -     \\ 

I  expected  to  work  for  a  living,  go  where  I  would.  I 
could  not  be  stopped  from  working.  Canada  is  the 
best  place  that  ever  I  saw :  I  can  make  more  money 
here  than  anywhere  else  I  know  of.  The  colored  peo- 
ple, taken  as  a  whole,  are  as  industrious  as  any  people 
you  will  find.  They  have  a  good  deal  of  ambition  to 
go  forward,  and  take  a  good  stand  in  the  community. 
I  know  several  who  own  houses  and  lands.  They  are 
a  very  temperate  people.  / 


^':V-.': 


ROBERT  BELT. 


1;       ii 


I  came  from  Maryland,  —  I  was  in  slavery  about 
twenty-five  years.  I  had  heard  that  there  was  a  notion 
of  selling  me.  There  was  a  mystery  about  it  —  some 
saying  that  I  was  born  free.  A  white  man  told  me 
that  he  thought  I  would  be  sold,  as  there  was  a  dispute. 


w 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OP   SLAVERY. 


113 


111  about  one  month  after,  I  came  away.  In  one  place 
where  I  was  concealed,  I  saw  people  from  the  neigh- 
borhood hunting  for  me.  I  travelled  more  than  a  hun- 
dred miles  on  foot,  and  suffered  a  great  deal  by  getting 
sore  feet,  and  from  cold  and  \v^nt  of  food. 

I  got  work  soon  after  my  arrival  here,  which  was 
quite  recent :  since  I  have  been  here,  I  have  prospered 
well.  My  calculation  is,  to  own  a  house  and  a  piece 
of  land  by  and  by. 

I  feel  much  better  satisfied  for  myself  since  I  have 
been  free,  than  when  I  was  a  slave :  but  I  feel  grieved 
to  think  that  my  friends  are  in  slavery.  I  wish  they 
could  come  out  here.  My  wife  came  on  with  me  from 
an  adjoining  farm. 


m-f'  -mil 


mu 


*)  ■.:': 


J;  ELIJAH  JENKINS. 

Last  winter  I  came  away  from  Norfolk,  Va.  I  am 
thirty-six  years  of  age. 

My  mistress,  a  young  woman,  died,  and  I  fell  to  her 
mother,  an  old  woman.  Knowing  that  on  her  death  I 
would  have  to  be  sold,  I  ran  away,  and  did  not  meet 
with  much  difficulty  in  doing  so. 

We  are  told  in  Norfolk  that  they  would  set  us  free, 
but  we  could  n't  get  along  without  them  to  take  care 
of  us.  But  since  I  have  got  here,  I  find  that  colored 
people  do  get  along  without  masters,  better  than  those 
who  are  slaves. 

I  have  no  wish  to  go  back,  although  I  am  sick.  I  in- 
tend to  get  work,  as  soon  as  I  am  well  enough. 

Since  I  grew  up  to  be  a  man,  slavery  has  never  looked 

10* 


114 


THE  BEFUQEE;   OB  A 


to  me  right.  It  seemed  hard  when  I  had  earned  any 
money  to  have  to  carry  it  to  another  man,  when  my 
wife  needed  it  herself.  I  have  left  a  wife  and  five  small 
children.  I  had  a  good  wife,  and,  if  I  could,  would  have 
her  and  the  children  her'e  this  minute.  I  never  heard 
of  a  man  running  away  from  slavery  to  get  rid  of  his 
wife. 


*v  ■  ■..-'  ,:  A- , 


'.     i, 


JOHN  A.  HUNTER. 

I  feel  more  like  a  man,  —  I  feel  that  I  am  a  man  a 
great  deal  more  than  I  did  a  year  ago.  A  year  ago  I 
was  in  bondage. 

I  was  raised  in  a  city  in  Maryland,  and  was  a  slave 
from  birth  until  twenty  years  of  age.  The  slaves  in 
cities  are  better  treated  than  those  on  the  farms  and 
plantations.  When  I  was  young,  while  my  first  master 
lived,  I  was  sent  to  a  school  for  white  children.  My 
mistress's  sister  kept  the  school,  and  I  was  allowed  to 
go  to  keep  me  out  of  the  way.  When  I  was  about  ten 
years  old,  my  first  master  died.  My  mistress  married 
again,  and  my  new  master  said  they  ought  not  to  have 
sent  me  to  school  —  that  I  knew  too  much  any  how. 
So  I  was  taken  from  school.  I  remained  at  home  doing 
work  for  the  family.  At  fourteen,  my  master  wished 
to  hire  me  out  on  a  farm,  but  my  mistress  not  giving, 
her  consent,  I  remained  in  the  city. 

I  heard  from  a  colored  man  that  I  was  going  to  be 
sold  ;  afterward  from  a  white  man,  that  I  was  sold,  and 

that  my  master  had  the  money  in  his  pocket I 

came  away,  and  met  no  difficulty  in  reaching  a  land  of 


\ 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


115 


freedom.  I  now  attend  the  Nonnal  School,  to  get  an 
education  if  I  can. 

A  great  many  slaves  know  nothing  of  Canada^  — 
they  do  n't  know  that  there  is  such  a  country. 

Whether  the  slaves  as  a  body  in  the  city  are  content- 
ed or  not,  I  am  unable  to  say.  I  know  that  I  myself 
was  discontented  and  unhappy  in  my  servile  condition. 
My  impression  of  those  slaves  with  whom  I  associated 
is,  that  they  were  dissatisfied.  I  have  heard  poor  igno- 
rant slaves,  that  did  not  know  A  from  B,  say  that  they 
did  not  believe  the  Lord  ever  intended  they  should  be 
slaves,  and  that  they  did  not  see  how  it  should  be  so. 

I  think  that  slavery  is  the  greatest  evil  that  ever 
existed. 

I  consider  that  the  efforts  of  the  abolitionists  for  the 
slaves  are  salutary.  :         v  ? 


'"■-''      SAM  DAVIS. 

I  was  in  bondage,  in  Virginia,  from  birth  until  thirty 
years  of  age.  I  have  had  no  instruction  at  all.  My 
mistress  used  me  only  tolerably  well  —  she  used  the 
switch.  At  sixteen  she  began  to  hire  me  out  at  farm- 
ing. I  have  worked  on  several  different  farms.  Some- 
times my  employers  would  be  good,  sometimes  bad : 
three  bad  masters  to  one  good  one. 

I  have  seen  a  great  deal  of  punishments.  My  brother 
and  I  were  once  set  to  breaking  stone  for  a  turnpike : 
he  stopped  work  to  straighten  up  for  a  minute  or  two, 
when  the  overseer  threw  a  stone  and  hit  him  on  the 
ankle.     My  brother  said,  "  If  you  have  not  any  thing 


; 


116 


THE  REFUaEE;   OR  A 


better  to  do  than  to  throw  stones,  you  had  better  go 
home,"  For  this  he  was  tied  up  to  a  chestnut  tree, 
stripped,  and  whipped  with  hickories  until  his  back  was 
raw.  My  brother's  owner  sued  the  man  he  was  hired 
to,  and  a  white  man  who  happened  to  be  a  witness, 
swore  that  he  counted  a  hundred  lashes.  The  master 
recovered,  I  believe,  two  hundred  dollars  and  the  doc- 
tor's bill,  but  my  brother  received  none  of  the  money. 
I  have  been  whipped  by  different  persons  I  have  been 
hired  to :  once  with  a  cowhide,  several  times  with  hick- 
ories, —  not  over  thirty-nine  lashes  at  one  time. 

The  man  I  was  last  hired  to  did  not  give  me  enough 
to  eat,  and  used  me  hardly  otherwise :  I  then  thought  I 
would  leave  for  a  better  country.  I  travelled  on  three 
days  and  nights,  suffering  for  want  of  food.  When  I 
was  passing  through  Orangetown,  in  Pennsylvania,  I 
went  into  a  shop  to  get  some  cake.  Two  men  followed 
me  with  muskets.  They  had  followed  me  from  a  vil- 
lage I  had  passed  through  a  little  before.  They  'ook 
me,  and  were  going  to  carry  me  before  a  magistrate,  — 
they  said  to  Chambersburg.  I  walked  just  before.  By 
and  by,  watching  my  chance,  I  jumped  a  fence  and  ran. 
They  were  on  horseback.  I  got  into  a  piece  of  woods, 
—  thence  into  a  wheat  field,  where  I  lay  all  day ;  from 
9,  A.  M.  until  dark.  I  could  not  sleep  for  fear.  At  night 
I  travelled  on,  walking  until  day,  when  I  came  to  a  col- 
ored man's  house  among  mountains.  He  gave  me  a 
good  breakfast,  for  which  I  thank  him,  and  then  directed 
me  on  the  route.  I  succeeded,  after  a  while,  in  finding 
the  underground  railroad.  I  stopped  awhile  at  one 
place  sick,  and  was  taken  good  care  of.  I  did  not  stop 
to  work  in  the  States,  but  came  on  to  Canada.  I  ar- 
rived here  a  few  months  ago. 

I  know  that  liberty  is  far  preferable  for  every  colored 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OF  SLAVERY. 


117 


man,  to  slavery.  I  know  many  who  are  very  anxious 
to  be  free,  but  they  are  afraid  to  start.  Money  is  al- 
most necessary  to  start  with.  When  I  set  out,  I  had 
seven  dollars :  it  cost  me  five  to  get  over  a  river  on  my 
way.  They  knew  I  must  cross,  and  they  charged  me 
as  much  as  they  thought  I  could  pay. 

I  have  had  work  enough  to  support  myself  since  I 
have  been  here.     I  intend  to  work,  and  save  all  I  can. 


i 


HAMILTON. 


This  thriving  city,  by  actual  count  in  1854,  contained 
two  hundred  and  seventy-four  colored  persons,  namely, 
St.  Lawrence  Ward       .        ,        .        .51  u 

37  »^ 


St.  George's 
St.  Patrick's 
St.  Mary's 
St.  Andrew's 


(( 


« 


u 


a 


12 

34 

140 


Total, 274 

^  The  public  schools  of  Hamilton  contain  about  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  pupils,  of  whom  twenty-five 
are  colored. ")  Eight  hundred  scholars  attend  the  Central 
School ;  arid  on  the  12th  of  June,  1855,  when  the  ^vriter 
visited  it,  there  were  present  but  seven  colored  children, 
six  of  whom  were  girls. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  tha-:  the  colored  people  do 
not  to  a  greater  extent  avail  themselves  of  the  advan- 
tages presented  by  the  perfect  equality  of  the  English 
•laws.  Yet  it  is  scarcely  to  be  wondered  at,  when  we 
consider  that  prejudice  against  them  prevails  to  too 
great  an  extent  in  Hamilton.  If  the  colored  children 
were  universally  sent  to  school,  prejudice  would  proba- 
blv  die  out  before  many  vears :  for  those  who  attend 
the  Central  School,  I  have  the  best  authority  for  say- 

(118) 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OP   BLAVERY. 


119 


ing,  are  as  orderly  and  well  behaved,  and  make  as  good 
progress  in  their  studies,  as  the  whites. 

The  commiseration  felt  for  the  colored  population  on 
account  of  their  sidlerings  in  the  United  States,  seems 
to  have  been  unduly  modified  by  the  disorderly  conduct 
of  a  few  among  tluir  number:  still,  the  presence  of  "a 
moral  and  religious  element  to  restrain  and  elevate  "  is 
perceptible  in  Hamilton.  If  the  people  can  but  "  con- 
quer their  prejudices"  much  of  good  may  be  done.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  is  a  question  whether  the  colored  peo- 
ple would  not  do  well  to  give  up  their  separate  religious 
organizations,  and  separate  schools,  wherever  they  exist 
in  Canada. 

Many  of  the  colored  people  in  Hamilton  are  "  well 
off"; "  are  good  mechanics,  and  good  "  subjects  "  in  the 
English  sense  of  that  word. 


REV.  R.  S.  W.  SORRICK. 

I  was  born  in  Maryland,  Washington  Co.,  two  miles 
from  the  city.  At  a  year  old,  I  was  sold  with  my  pa- 
rents, and  lived  in  Hagerstown  some  years,  and  then 
sold  back  to  my  first  master,  —  then  he  sold  me  to  Mr. 
H.  near  Hagerstown.  Then  I  was  sold  to  Mr.  M.  I 
was  then  twenty-five  years  old.  Mr.  M.  in  1841,  put 
me  in  prison  on  the  16th  of  March  for  preaching  the 
gospel  to  my  colored  brethren.  I  remained  in  the  prison 
three  months  and  eight  days ;  then  Mr.  H.  bought  me 
back  again.  I  must  speak  well  of  Mr.  H.,  for  he  stood 
by  me.  I  stopped  with  him  more  than  a  year  after  he 
redeemed  me  from  the  prison.  Mr.  H.  remembered  me 
in  the  prison. 


120 


THE  refugee:  or  a 


It  pleased  the  Lord  to  work  a  way  through  Mr.  H., 
who  believed  I  had  a  call  to  preach,  to  give  me  a  chance 
for  freedom,  by  offering  me  my  liberty  on  condition  I 
should  earn  and  remit  to  him  the  sum  of  four  hundred 
dollars.  He  gave  me  a  pass  and  I  went  to  Pennsylva- 
nia, in  1843,  Oct.  11.  Thence  I  remitted  him  a  portion 
of  the  money.     The  balance  I  have  never  paid. 

I  came  into  Canada  in  1845.  Stopped  at  Toronto, 
where  I  found  the  colored  people  prompt,  doing  weU, 
ready  to  help.  I  went  to  Oro,  where  I  found  some  fifty 
persons  settled  ;  many  comfortable  and  doing  well,  but 
many  suffer  a  great  deal  from  poverty.  I  showed  them 
about  agriculture,  and  instructed  them  as  far  as  my  lim- 
ited learning  would  go.  When  I  came  away,  many 
were  poor,  but  they  were  not  vicious :  I  never  lived 
among  a  more  teachable  people.  I  never  knew  a  fight 
among  them  or  their  children.  The  worst  fault  was, 
some  tendency  to  slander  each  other :  but  they  have 
been  instructed  by  the  missionaries  to  read  and  write. 

On  leaving  Oro,  I  came  on  to  the  conference  in  Ham- 
ilton, where  I  have  principally  made  it  my  home,  since 
1847,  —  although  I  have  been  absent  a  portion  of  the 
time  in  Canada  East. 

In  regard  to  the  colored  people  in  Hamilton,  I  found 
them  not  in  a  very  good  condition,  when  I  first  came 
here,  although  some  were  wealthy.  I  never  saw  so 
much  spirit  consumed  by  the  colored  people  as  at  that 
time,  but  most  of  those  who  were  among  the  vicious, 
are  dead  and  gone.  Now  the  evil  of  drinking  is  com- 
paratively slight,  pretty  much  done  away,  and  those 
who  have  come  in  within  a  few  years,  are  generally 
well  behaved  and  industrious.  We  have  two  respecta- 
ble churches,  in  one  of  which  1  preach,  —  the  A.  M. 
Episcopal.     My  people  come  into  this   country  with 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


121 


nothing,  and  they  have  to  work  for  what  they  do  get. 
One  cannot  expect  a  great  deal  at  once  from  such  peo- 
ple. Every  thing  is  to  be  hoped  for  them,  —  but  the 
main  obstacle  is  a  prejudice  existing  between  colored 
and  white. 

Slavery  is  the  worst  system  I  have  ever  seen.  Al- 
though I  have  been  poor  here,  I  can  repeat,  "  give  me 
liberty,  or  give  me  death."  I  have  seen  children  at  a 
month  old  taken  from  iheir  mother's  arms  and  sold.  I 
have  seen  children  sold  from  their  parents  and  many 
separations  of  families,  where  the  parties  never  could 
see  each  other  again. 


■'i±LsMfi 


■•,0-f',    ■■-■ 


EDWARD  PATTERSON. 


I  was  a  slave  in  Maryland,  till  thirty-three  years  of 
age. 

The  prejudice  in  Canada  is  amongst  the  whites  to 
the  colored,  and  amongst  the  colored  to  the  whites. 
The  colored  fancy  that  the  whites  are  a  little  against 
them,  and  so  they  do  not  treat  the  whites  as  they  would 
otherwise,  —  this  brings  back  a  prejudice  from  the 
whites.  When  the  colored  people  here  are  insulted  it 
is  by  the  n/^ttws  in  Canada.  v^s 

I  was  well  used,  as  it  is  called  in  the  South,  but  I 
don't  think  my  usage  was  human.  For,  what  is  good 
treatment  ?  Look  at  the  dress,  —  two  pairs  of  panta- 
loons and  two  shirts  in  the  summer ;  in  the  fall,  one 
pair  of  shoes,  one  pair  of  pantaloons,  and  one  pair  of 
stockings.  If  they  v/ant  more,  they  must  buy  them 
themselves  if  they  can.  No  more  till  summer.  Look 
at  the  eating,  —  a  bushel  of  corn  meal  a  month,  sixteen 

11 


I  '^*^ 


122 


THE  REFUGEE  1   OR  A 


pounds  hog  meat  a  month,  rye  coffee  sweetened  with, 
molasses,  and  milk  if  they  have  any ;  for  a  rarity,  wheat 
bread  and  butter.  This  is  what  I  called  good  treat- 
ment. Look  at  the  bedding,  —  sometimes  they  have  a 
bed,  sometimes  not.  If  they  have  one,  it  is  filled  with 
straw  or  hay,  and  they  have  one  blanket,  and  must  get 
along  as  they  can.  Those  who  have  no  beds  must 
sleep  how  they  can —  in  the  ashes,  before  the  fire,  in  the 
barn  or  stable,  or  anywhere  they  can  get.  Now  look  at 
the  privileg-es  where  they  are  well  used,  —  what  is  called 
good  treatment.  After  eleven  days  and  a  half  hard 
labor,  the  kindest  masters  give  their  slaves  half  a  Satur- 
day, and  then  the  slave,  through  ignorance,  goes  to  ask 
his  master  the  privilege  of  going  to  see  his  neighborsli 
and  friends.  He  ma?/  allow  this  if  he  sees  proper.  All 
this  is  good  usage  to  the  slave. 

Now  I  come  to  the  great  evil :  it  is,  —  recollect  the 
human  mind  is  progressive,  —  the  raising  up  of  a  gen-  - 
eration  of  people  under  gross  ignorance,  in  the  place  of 
their  being  cultivated  as  they  ought  to  be.  Cut  off 
from  all  proper  human  enjoyments,  they  are  only  in- 
structed enough  to  do  their  master's  will  —  the  same 
instruction  which  is  given  to  asses.  If  the  slave  hap- 
pen to  take  to  himself  a  woman,  (marrying  a  wife 
would  be  too  high  phrase,)  and  there  is  any  increase, 
his  children  are  considered  of  no  more  consequence  to 
him  than  the  calf  is  to  the  cow.  If  the  slaveholder  be- 
comes involved,  or  takes  a  dislike  to  any  of  these  chil- 
dren, or  to  the  woman,  he  takes  them  to  a  slave-market 
and  puts  them  under  the  hammer.  And  all  this  in 
presence  of  the  husband. 

If  any  man  has  a  wife  and  family,  and  has  human 
feelings  for  them,  can  he  call  this  humanity  ? 

I  was  never  sent  to  a  day  school  —  I  went  to  a  Sab- 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW      P  SLAVERY. 


123 


bath  school  four  Sundays.     I  have,  however,  picked  up 
a  knowledge  of  reading,  writing,  and  ciphering. 


IV 


WILLLVMSON  PEASE. 


[A  white  man  with  blue  eyes.] 


.t  My  name  in  slavery  was  Williamson.  I  was  born 
in  Hardeman  county,  Tenn.  I  remained  in  slavery 
until  January,  1854.  1  was  a  house-servant.  At  about 
six  or  seven  years  of  age,  the  family  I  belonged  to,  re- 
moved to  Haywood  county,  carrying  my  mother,  her 
two  sisters,  and  myself.  I  do  not  know  who  my  father 
was,  but  have  heard  that  he  was  a  white  man.  My 
mother  was  called  there  a  mulatto.  I  passed  for  a 
white  man  when  among  strangers.  My  master  and 
mistress  tried  to  teach  me  at  home,  but  never  sent  me 
to  school.  1  would  get  out  of  the  way  when  they  tried 
to  teach  me,  being  small  and  not  knowing  the  good  of 
learning.     I  have  since  learned  to  read  and  write. 

In  Haywood  county  I  ploughed  some,  but  when 
wanted,  served  in  the  house.  While  I  lived  with  my 
first  master,  I  was  well  used,  and  suffered  nothing,  ex- 
cept for  want  of  education,  which  I  now  feel  to  be  a 
great  depriving. 

When  I  was  about  eighteen  years  old,  my  master 
died,  and  I  fell  to  his  grandson,  then,  I  believe,  between 
twenty-two  and  twenty-three.  All  the  property  fell 
to  him,  my  Txiistress  having  died  some  time  before. 
My  first  mas';er  was  an  Englishman  and  had  been  a 


on  1  i/w 


Vndei  this  master   I  went  on   as  before,  and   the 


'A 


.  "i 


t'?ii     J. 


/ 


124 


THE  repugse;  or  a 


change  made  no  difference  in  my  treatment  or  work. 
In  about  a  year  and  a  half,  he  sold  out  the  place  —  the 
house  and  farm  —  and  two  children ;  and  a  woman  he 
sold,  or  swapped  off.  Then  he  removed  to  Arkansas, 
to  a  place  about  fifteen  miles  east  of  Saline  River,  and 
about  forty  or  forty-five  miles  from  Gaines's  Landing. 
Here  he  rented  a  plantation  of  cotton,  I  think  of  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  When  we  got  there,  we 
were  put  to  picking  out  cotton  in  a  field  for  the  man 
who  was  moving  off.  I  then  drove  the  wagon,  hauling 
rails,  etc.  When  he  had  got  the  land  partly  prepared, 
but  before  the  planting  season,  my  master  rented  the 
place  to  another  man.  Then  he  sold  all  his  slave.^  ex- 
cept me,  at  private  sale  to  one  man.  Me  he  kept  to  go  u 
with  him  to  California.  I  went  there  with  him  across 
the  Isthmus  to  San  Francisco,  in  1850 ;  from  there  to 
Merces  River,  in  the  southern  mines.  There  my  mas- 
ter and  I  worked  in  the  mines  about  six  weeks.  We 
went  out  with  a  company,  but  had  now  left  it.  We 
got  some  gold,  about  eighty  dollars'  worth,  but  not 
enough  to  pay  expenses.  Then  we  went  back  to  San 
Francisco.  My  master  was  sick  before  he  got  to  the 
mines :  his  health  continued  rather  bad,  and  he  con- 
cluded to  return.  I  told  him  I  should  stay  in  the  mines 
until  I  got  money  enough  to  buy  my  freedom.  He 
said  I  could  do  better  in  San  Francisco.  For  that  rea- 
son, I  went  back  with  him  to  that  city.  He  went  about 
with  me  to  find  a  place.  I  was  offered  forty  dollars  a 
month  as  a  waiter.  Master  said  that  would  hardly  pay  i 
my  washing  and  plothing  bill. 

Before  we  left  home,  he  had  told  me  that  I  should  be 
free  after  two  years  in  the  mines;  and  if  we  cleared 
enough  over  his  expenses,  he  would  give  me  five  hun- 
dred dollars.     After  humbugging  me  about  San  Fran- 


'  Til 

,11 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW   OF  SLAVERY. 


125 


II- 
n- 


cisco,  and  even  promising  to  make  me  out  free  papers, 
he  urged  me,  on  account  of  his  sickness  to  go  home 
with  him.  I  told  him  if  I  went  back,  I  would  only  be 
free  myself,  but  my  mother  would  still  be  a  slave;  while 
if  I  remained  in  San  Francisco,  I  would  be  free,  and 
might  earn  enough  to  buy  her.  He  then  told  me  that 
if  I  would  go  back,  he  would  buy  my  mother  back 
again,  and  so  I  would  be  sure  that  she  would  be  just  as 
well  oft*,  as  if  I  were  to  buy  her  and  set  her  free.  I 
know  now  that  it  was  foolish  in  me  to  go  with  him 
back,  but  I  had  been  fooled  and  humbugged  about  so 
much  that  I  did  not  know  what  to  do.  I  was  offered 
five  dollars  a  day  to  drive  a  dray,  but  my  master  tried 
and  discouraged  me  from  every  thing  they  would  offer 
me.  I  have  wished  a  great  many  times  since,  that  I 
had  stayed  there :  but  at  last  he  persuaded  me  so  hard, 
saying  that  he  only  wanted  me  for  company  io  take 
care  of  him,  as  he  was  sick,  and  might  get  worse,  and 
none  of  the  company  who  went  out  with  him  were 
going,  that  I  concluded  to  return  with  him. 

I  worked  my  passage  on  board  a  sail  vessel  with  him, 
bound  to  Panama,  —  but  the  wind  being  ahead,  we 
were  thirty  days  at  sea,  and  then  put  into  Acapulco, 
being  short  of  provisions.  There  the  passengers  made 
a  fuss  in  regard  to  their  passage-money :  some,  among 
whom  were  my  master  and  myself,  took  horses  and  rode 
across  the  country  through  the  city  of  Mexico  to  Vera 
Cruz.     My  master  was  now  perfectly  well. 

At  Vera  Cruz  I  was  after  him  for  my  papers  again. 
He  said  he  would  give  them  to  me.  I  walked  out  to 
look  at  the  town.  On  my  return  my  master  was  snuf- 
fling as  if  he  was  crying,  and  he  said  that  if  he  gave  me 
my  papers,  and  took  me  back  through  New  Orleans, 
both  him  and  v^e  would  be  put  in  the  penitentiary, 

41* 


-  vsup^ 


/■ 


126 


THE  refugee;  ok  a 


['t; ! 


After  declining  to  give  me  the  papers,  he  told  me  that 
if  I  would  go  back  witn  him,  and  stay  '  mtil  he  got  mar- 
ried and  settled,  1  could  leave  him  if  I  wished,  and  he 
would  give  me  thirty  dollars  to  start  with,  to  go  where 
I  liked.  He  said  he  would  give  me  a  bill  of  sale  there 
in  Vera  Cruz,  if  I  would  not  let  anybody  see  it.  I 
could  not  read,  and  supposed  it  would  be  some  paper 
of  no  consequence,  and  I  knew  it  would  do  no  good 
if  nobody  else  was  to  see  it :  so  I  concluded  to  go  on  """^^ 
with  him  on  his  promise  that  I  was  a  free  man,  and 
that  he  would  have  no  claim  on  me  at  all.  '^* 

We  embarked  for  New  Orleans  in  a  Spanish  schooner, 
and  reached  port  without  any  thing  worthy  of  notice. 


We  went  on  directly  to  Monticello,  near  the  place 
whence  I  came,  where  he  had  sold  out.  We  stayed 
with  his  cousin,  until  he  went  to  New  Orleans  and  got  a 
stock  of  goods,  and  opened  a  dry  goods  store,  which  I 
tended  with  him.  Before  he  went  for  the  goods,  I  spoke 
to  him  for  my  papers,  and  he  said  he  would  fix  it  in  a 
day  or  two :  but  it  was  not  done.  This  was  in  the  • 
spring ;  I  remained  with  him  until  July.  I  did  not  say 
any  thing  more  to  him  about  the  papers ;  I  had  got  tired 
of  fooling  with  him,  and  gave  it  up,  not  expecting  to 
get  them. 

Just  then  a  mar.  who  kept  a  billiard  saloon  was  sick 
with  rheumatism,  and  he  hired  me  to  tend  the  saloon, 
which  I  did  seven  months,  boarding  with  him.  Soon 
aft«r  I  entered  the  saloon,  my  master  got  married,  and 
abo'it  a  month  cr  six  weeks  before  I  left  it,  it  was  ru- 
mored that  I  was  sold  to  his  father-in-law.  I  went  to 
him  and  asked  him  about  it,  but  he  denied  it.  Then 
his  father-in-law  came  into  the  town  from  his  plantation 
two  miles  out,  and  told  me  that  he  hai  bought  me. 
After  this,  the  saloc  .  mt^n  proposed  tq  bay  me  to  keep 


\\ 


V 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  DP  8LAVEHY. 


127 


his  saloon,  but  I  refused,  and  toid  him  I  would  ra.ther 
not :  I  had  now  nnade  up  my  mind  to  leave  on  the  first 
opportunity.  I  then  went  to  my  master  again,  —  I  took 
him  away  from  the  house  about  u  hundred  yards,  and 
said  to  him,  "  There  cannot  be  so  much  smoke  without 
some  fire ;  everybody  has  got  it  that  you  have  sold  me : 
your  father-in-law  has  told  me  that  he  has  bought  me." 
Then  he  swore  that  it  was  a  lie :  that  they  were  just 
tfying  to  get  me  to  run  away.  He  told  me  to  go  to  the 
map  I  was  living  with,  and  get  my  clothes,  and  come 
back  and  live  with  him  ;  hat  he  was  going  to  Texas 
to  open  a  grocery  store,  and  put  me  in,  and  would  give 
me  one  third  of  the  clear  profits.  The  saloon  man 
wished  me  to  remain,  but  my  master  and  his  father-in- 
law  refused.  My  master  told  me  I  might  have  a  bal- 
ance of  wages  due,  say  fourteen  dollars,  and  I  afterwards 
got  it.  About  the  beginning  of  March,  they  told  me  to 
prepare  to  go  to  New  Orleans  next  morning  with  the 
father-in-law,  to  wait  on  him ;  afterwards  my  master 
came  out,  and  I  told  him  that  I  knew  I  was  going  to 
New  Orleans  to  be  sold.  He  denied  it,  and  offered  to 
bet  fifty  dollars  that  I  would  come  back.  I  rode  over 
to  see  my  mother,  and  told  her  how  matters  stood.  She 
was  very  much  hurt,  but  said  it  was  my  own  fault,  — 
meaning  that  I  ought  not  to  have  returned  from  Cali- 
fornia. On  my  way  back  I  met  the  father-in-law  on 
horseback,  bringing  my  clothes,  but  not  my  watch.  I 
requested  to  go  after  it,  but  he  would  not  let  me,  saying 
he  would  get  me  another.  My  watch  was  a  good  silver 
watch,  which  I  did  not  carry,  because  the  crystal  was 
broken.  I  then  rode  with  him  to  a  place  on  Saline 
river  called  Long  View ;  here  we  took  a  small  boat,  and 
sailed  down  to  the  Washita  river-  where  we  took  a 
steamer  for  New  Orleans.  I'here  were  several  slaves 
on  board  the  boat.  - 


ii  ''ii 


li 


128 


THE  refugee;   OB  A 


One  day,  during  the  passr^ge,  a  man  who  owned  some 
of  these  slaves,  came  to  me  as  I  was  alone,  leaning 
against  a  stanchion,  and  putting  his  hand  to  his  chin, 
gave  his  head  a  twist,  and  said,  "  I  hear  bad  news  about 
you."  Said  I,  "What  is  it?"  Said  he,  "They  tell 
me  you  are  a  slave."  I  told  him  I  was.  Then  he  said, 
"  You  a  slave  !  you  're  as  white  as  my  daughter  there ; " 
he  pointed  to  her,  —  all  you'  ve  got  to  do  when  we  get 
to  a  landing  is  to  take  your  clothes  and  walk ;  you 
won  't  want  no  testimony  nor  nothing ;  just  take  your 
clothes  and  go." 

Afterwards,  a  man  who  was  on  board  came  to  me, 
and  asked,  "  Have  you  been  to  California  ? "  I  told 
him  I  had.  Then  he  asked  me,  "  Don  't  you  think  you 
ought  to  be  free  ?  "  I  answered  carelessly,  "  I  don 't 
know  —  maybe  I  ought."  Then  he  took  my  hat  off, 
felt  of  my  hair,  and  looked  at  my  head,  and  said,  "  Your 
hair  is  as  straighL  as  mine,  and  yo;i've  got  as  good  a 
forehead  as  mine  :  by  G — d,  I  know  that  you  ought  to 
be  free,  and  if  you  were  mine,  I  '11  be  d — d  if  I  wouldn  't 
set  you  free."     I  made  no  answer. 

Soon  after,  a  colored  rr^n  came  to  me,  and  told  me 
he  had  overheard  the  father-in-law  trying  to  sell  me  to 
the  man  who  had  examined  my  head. 

We  went  to  a  hotel  in  New  Orleans  for  a  day  or 
two  ;  then  to  a  private  boarding-house.  He  was  trying 
all  through  the  town  to  sell  me,  but  could  not.  After 
he  had  tried  a  while,  he  came  to  me  and  told  me  that  he 
wanted  to  sell  me,  and  would  get  me  a  good  place,  and 
if  I  would  go  and  help  him  to  sell  me,  that  he  would 
make  it  profitable  to  me.  I  told  him  "  very  well,"  —  for  I 
preferred  to  take  my  chances  in  New  Orleans  as  a  sla/e, 
rather  than  retuAi  to  Arkansas  as  a  slave,  We  went 
to  three  or  four  trading-houses ;  none  would  buy,  saying 


\\ 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW   OF   SLAVERY. 


129 


I  was  too  white  for  them.  He  took  me  to  one  house 
kept  by  a  swarthy-looking  man,  and  told  him  what  a 
smart  boy  I  was ;  that  I  could  r?  id  and  write,  and  had 
been  to  California,  etc.  Said  the  trader,  "  Can  you 
read  and  write  ?  "  I  told  him  "  Yes."  Then  said  he, 
"I  do  n't  want  you  inhere, —  I  should  have  to  chop 
your  fingers  off."  Then  we  went  to  a  cotton  merchant 
whom  he  was  owing,  and  offered  me  in  payment.  The 
cotton  merchant  objected,  that  I  was  too  white,  and 
kn6w  too  much,  and  might  prove  too  smart  for  him. 
Finally,  as  the  father-in-law  was  about  leaving  town, 
he  came  and  asked  me  if  I  would  go  back  with  him.  I 
told  him  that  I  did  not  want  to  go  back,  —  that  he  had 
better  leave  me  with  the  cotton  merchant,  or  put  me 
into  some  shop,  or  to  learn  a  trade,  until  he  could  sell 
me.  I  suppose  he  expected  to  make  a  great  trade  out 
of  me,  but  he  got  tripped  up.  I  do  not  know  what 
passed  between  the  father-in-law  and  the  merchant,  but 
the  latter  told  me  he  had  bought  me  for  nine  hundred 
dollars,  in  part  pay  for  a  debt. 

^I  went  to  the  merchant's  warehouse,  and  remained 
there  four  or  five  days :  then  my  master  told  me  that 
his  family  lived  in  a  free  State,  and  if  he  were  to  carry 
me  there,  it  would  be  in  my  own  will  whether  to  stay 
or  not,  —  that  he  had  nothing  for  me  to  do,  and  would 
sell  me  to  a  good  man  who  would  use  me  well.  He 
sold  me  to  a  man  back  in  Arkansas,  where  I  was  em- 
ployed in  the  house,  and  sometimes  went  round  with 
him  with  guns  to  shoot  squirrels  off  the  corn.  He  had 
about  a  hundred  slaves  on  this  place,  and  he  owned  a 
part  in  two  or  three  others.  I  stayed  there  from  March, 
1852,  to  January,  1854,  when  I  was  about  twenty-one 
years  old. 

My  master  got  rather  against  me,  —  he  had  no  par- 


1  ll 


130 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


ticular  cause  that  I  know  of.  He  said,  so  I  heard  from 
others,  that  I  thought  I  was  white :  that  I  was  a  good 
boy,  but  would  have  to  be  whipped  to  let  me  know 
that  I  was  a  "nigger;"  for  "niggers  always  should 
be  whipped  some,  no  matter  how  good  they  are,  else 
they  '11  forget  that  they  are  niggers." 

He  told  the  blacksmith  to  be  fooling  with  me  in  the 
shop  some  time,  and  get  my  measure  for  a  pair  of  stiff- 
legs.  These  are,  one  iron  ring  around  the  ancle  and 
one  up  on  the  thigh,  joined  together  by  an  iron  rod  be- 
hind. "When  these  are  put  on  a  man,  he  cannot  bend 
his  knees  at  all,  and  so  cannot  run  away.  I  saw  one 
pair  of  these  on  a  man  on  this  plantation.  My  mas- 
ter's plan  was  to  whip  me,  as  I  have  the  best  reasons  to 
believe,  then  put  on  the  stiff-legs,  and  chain  me  to  work 
in  the  smith's  shop.  I  then  made  preparations  as  quick 
as  I  could  and  left.  I  took  my  clothes  and  a  few  bis- 
cuit from  the  table  at  supper.  I  walked  forty  miles 
through  the  Arkansas  Swamp  to  the  Mississippi,  along 
a  muddy  road,  and  at  2  o'clock  the  next  day,  got  to 
Napoleon,  on  the  Mississippi  River.  Nobody  ques- 
tioned me 

I  like  living  in  Canada  better  than  in  the  States.  I 
had  chills  in  Arkansas,  but  have  had  first-rate  health 
ever  since  I  have  been  here.  I  am  treated  here  as  a 
man  ought  to  be  treated.  I  could  not  be  pulled  back 
into  Arkansas,  —  I  would  have  my  head  pulled  off  first. 

Almost  all  the  colored  people  that  I  know  are  doing 
well.  It  was  so  in  London,  w^here  I  stopped  a  while, 
and  it  is  so  here.  There  is  some  prejudice  here  among 
the  low  class  of  people,  but  it  has  not  the  effect  here  it 
has  in  the  States,  because  here  the  colored  man  is  re- 
garded a^  a  man,  while  in  the  States  he  is  looked  upon 
more  as  a  brute. 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW   OF   SLAVERY. 


131 


I  saw  a  great  deal  of  oppression  in  Tennessee.  Peo- 
ple were  kept  from  leaving  the  plantations  on  Sundays 
and  evenings,  when  they  might  have  gone  as  well  as 
not.  The  excuse  for  this  was  that  "  the  niggers  would 
get  whiskey,  and  then  steal."  Some  of  them  were  not 
more  than  half  clothed.  , 

In  Arkansas,  on  the  river,  or  on  +he  farm  where  I 
lived  last,  the  people  were  treated  worse  than  brutes. 
Horses  and  mules  have  food  by  them  all  the  time,  but 
the  slaves  had  four  pounds  of  fat  bacon  a  week,  and  a 
peck  of  corn  meal,  —  not  enough  to  last  some  men 
three  days.  On  this  account  it  is,  that  the  slaves  help 
themselves  when  they  can  get  a  chance.  I  do  n't  see 
how  any  one  can  blame  them  for  it.  They  are  up  at 
daybreak  and  work  till  dark  and  sometimes  after  dark, 
carrying  cotton  to  the  gin,  and  then  have  to  prepare 
their  food,  or  else  at  the  first  bell-ringing  in  the  morn- 
ing. Generally,  in  Arkansas,  tVe  men  had  good  cloth- 
ing so  far  as  I  saw,  but  there  were  some  exceptions. 
Most  I  think  of  was,  depriving  them  of  the  privilege  of 
going  off  the  place.  It  was  worse  imprisonment  than 
the  penitentiary.  In  the  penitentiary,  a  man  expects 
to  get  out  in  a  few  months,  but  on  the  plantations  they 
do  not  expect  to  get  out  until  they  are  dead.  I  never 
went  to  church  while  I  was  on  that  last  farm  :  the  peo- 
ple did  not  go.  I  heard  my  master  say  it  was  "  per- 
fect nonsense  to  have  a  preacher  preaching  to  niggers : 
the  driver  was  a  good  enough  preacher  for  them."  This 
driver  was  a  colored  man,  as  ignorant  as  the  rest  of  the 
slaves,  but  he  used  to  hold  a  sort  of  prayer-meetiiig  on 
Sundays.  He  knew  nothing  at  all  of  a  book,  and  did 
not  know  enough  to  preach. 

In  Arkansas  they   whip   men  with  a  leather  strap 
about  three  fingers  wide  at  the  handle,  r.nd  tapering 


hM 


K'j 


'I 


132 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


down  to  two  fingers  at  the  end.  It  is  about  three 
feet  long,  and  has  a  very  short  handle.  I  was  told  that 
several  who  were  buried  while  I  was  there,  had  strap 
marks  on  them.  I  saw  the  oversee;  and  the  driver  to- 
gether give  a  man  a  terrible  whipping  in  the  night. 
The  man  had  been  promised  fifty  lashes,  and  ran  to 
avoid  them,  but  they  caught  him,  and  showed  no 
mercy.  They  beat  him  over  the  head  with  the  handle 
of  the  strap.  They  stripped  him  naked  and  drove  four 
stakes  in  the  ground  to  which  they  tied  his  hands  and 
his  feet.  I  saw  it  done  —  I  was  looking  through  the 
palings.  Then  they  whipped  him  with  the  strap  and 
then  with  a  piece  of  white  oak  made  limber.  I  saw 
his  back,  and  it  was  all  raw.  The  man  was  sent  to ' 
work  next  day,  but  he  gave  out,  and  was  laid  up  from 
August  until  some  time  in  the  fall  —  until  the  cotton 
had  been  picked  over  three  times.  I  have  often  seen 
men  with  their  clothes  sticking  to  their  backs  in  the 
blood.  The  women  who  do  out-door  work  are  used  aa 
bad  as  the  men. 

There  was  a  great  deal  of  excitement  among  the 
farmers  there  at  one  time  about  a  woman  on  a  planta- 
tion below,  who  had  been  whipped  very  badly  and  was 
then  tied  out  naked  all  night  in  a  swamp  where  the 
mosquitoes  were  very  thick  :  there  was  a  great  deal 
said  about  it. 

.  I  think  the  slaves  ought  to  be  set  free  :  I  d(>  n't  think 
they  would  cut  their  masters'  throats,  —  if  they  would 
do  that  the  time  would  be  while  they  are  oppressed. 
I  believe  if  they  were  set  free  at  once,  they  would  go  to 
work  at  once,  except  a  few  loafers,  —  for  there  are  some 
loafers  among  the  colored  as  well  as  among  the  white 


euuie. 


peup 


nohth-side  view  of  slavery. 


\ 
133 


\ 


HENRY  WILLIAMSON. 

I  came  from  the  State  of  Maryland,  where  I  was  a 
slave  from  birth  until  thirty-three  years  of  age,  in  a 
small  town. 

Around  that  part  of  the  country,  the  slaves  are  bet- 
ter treated  than  in  some  other  parts  because  they  are  so 
near  the  line.  They  are  better  used  than  they  were  a 
few  years  ago.  I  was  taught  to  read  but  not  to  write. 
I  used  to  tell  my  boss  that  I  would  n't  stand  such  treat- 
ment as  the  people  got  on  some  farms.  He  used  to 
laugh  and  say  "  you  would  n't,  eh  ?  "     There  was  one 

Gen. had  a  slave,  and  it  was  town  talk,  that  his 

overseer,  by  his  order,  dug  a  hole  in  the  ground,  and 
set  a  man  in  it  as  if  he  had  been  a  post,  and  then  cut 
him  so  badly  with  a  whip  that  he  died  in  about  half  an 
hour. 

My  father  was  sold  about  twelve  years  ago,  and 
taken  west.  About  two  years  ago,  I  came  away  be- 
cause I  wanted  to  be  f'"  I'he  circumstances  were 
these.  I  had  then  boon  married  about  ten  years.  My 
wife's  sister  was  sold  at  private  sale  to  a  trader  to  go 
south,  and  was  carried  away.  Her  father  and  mother 
were  dissatisfied  wiih  this,  and  concluded  to  go  to  Can- 
ada. I  concluded  to  start  with  them  with  my  family. 
In  all  eighteen  of  us  came  away  at  one  time.  We 
were  more  troubled  on  the  way  from  want  of  <rioney 
than  from  any  other  cause. 

Those  who  came  out  with  me,  are  scattered  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  Canada.  I  have  heard  from  them  and 
they  are  doing  well.  We  came  like  terrapins,  —  all 
we  had  on  our  backs.    We  took  a  house  together  when 

12 


I 


ia4 


THE  befuqee:  or  a 


re  came,  —  the  house  was  bare  of  furniture :  there  was 
nothing  in  it  at  all.  We  had  neither  money  nor  food. 
It  was  in  the  fall :  we  gathered  chips  and  made  a  fire. 
That  is  the  way  the  principal  part  of  our  people  come  : 
poor,  and  destitute,  and  ignorant,  their  minds  unculti- 
vated, and  so  they  are  not  fitted  for  business.  In  the 
face  of  these  drawbacks,  they  have  to  do  the  best  they 
can.  I  went  to  work  on  a  railroad,  —  to  which  I  was 
wholly  unused,  having  been  a  waiter.  I  worked  at  it 
till  I  found  something  I  could  do  better.  I  enjoy  better 
health  here  than  I  ever  did  before  in  my  life. 

I  heard  when  I  was  coming  that  Canada  was  a  cold 
and  dreary  country ;  but  it  is  as  healthy  a  place  as  a 
man  can  find.  The  colored  people  tell  me  the  climate 
agrees  with  them,  and  I  do  know  it  is  so. 

Some  of  our  people  are  very  jealous  of  the  white 
people.  If  they  approach  them  with  the  best  inten- 
tions in  the  world,  they  are  suspicious,  and  will  not 
communicate  any  thing,  even  if  it  were  to  their  own 
benefit.  This  is  because  they  have  been  so  much  de- 
ceived and  kept  down  by  the  white  people.  I  have 
seen  people  who  had  run  away,  brought  back  tied,  like 
sheep,  in  a  wagon.  Men  have  told  me,  that  when 
making  their  escape,  they  have  been  accosted,  invited 
into  a  house  in  a  friendly  way,  and,  next  thing,  some 
oflicer  or  their  owner  would  be  there.  The  lowest  class 
of  people  do  this  to  get  money,  —  men  who  might  get 
an  honest  living,  —  some  having  good  education,  and 
some  good  trades. 

Others  who  owned  servants  used  to  find  fault  with 
my  master  and  mistress  for  using  us  so  well.  They  did 
use  us  weJ'  and  I  would  not  have  left  them  only  for 


T  f^M 


vna.li 


U„^ — 


„a*  J.1 


many  that  were  slaves,  but  I  felt  that  I  had  a  right  to 
be  free. 


.     NORTH-SIDE  VIEW   OF  SLAVERY. 


135 


In  all  places  and  among  all  kinds  of  men  there  are 
some  loafing  characters  :  so  with  my  color.  Some  few 
of  them  get  in  with  poor,  low,  white  young  men,  and 
get  into  bad  ways.  But  the  better  part  are  disposed 
to  elevate  themselves. 

I  am  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  having  had 
good  religious  instruction  from  Bible  and  catechism 
from  my  youth  up. 

I  have  heard  that  my  master  has  set  his  older  slaves 
free.        ' 

Contrasting  what  I  feel  now  and  what  I  was  in  the 
south,  I  feel  as  if  a  weight  were  oft'  me.  Nothing 
would  induce  me  to  go  back,  —  nothing  would  carry 
me  back.  I  would  rather  be  wholly  poor  and  be  free, 
than  to  have  all  I  could  wish  and  be  a  slave.  I  am 
now  in  a  good  situation  and  doing  well,  —  I  am  learn- 
ing to  write. 


G  A  L  T. 


This  is  a  busy,  growing  place,  numbering  about  three 
thousand  inhabitants :  forty  colored.  An  account  of 
the  colored  population  will  be  found  in  the  testimonies 
which  follow. 


WILLIAM  THOMPSON. 

I  was  born  eighteen  miles  from  Richmond.  My  mas- 
ter was  my  father  and  used  me  kindly,  but  gave  me  no 
instruction  at  school.  I  witnessed  no  barbarity  myself, 
but  have  seen  slaves  handcufted  and  kept  in  jail.  I  have 
heard  their  cries  when  they  were  punished.  Slavery  has 
no  pleasances :  it  is  cousin  to  hell.  A  slave  cannot  pray 
right :  while  on  his  knees,  he  hears  his  master,  "  here, 
John ! "  —  and  he  must  leave  his  God  and  go  to  his 
master. 

There  are  in  Gait  about  forty  colored  people.  As  a 
general  thing,  they  are  more  industrious,  frugal,  and 
temperate  than  the  whites.  There  is  but  one  colored 
person  in  this  town  who  has  been  here  longer  than  my- 
self. There  are  six  heads  of  families  and  one  single 
man  who  own  real  estate. 

I  know  the  sentiments  of  the  colored  people  here, 

(186) 


\ 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW   OP    SLAVERY. 


137 


i&^-i 


and  they  have  the  greatest  detestation  of  slavery.  Free°i^ 
dom  is  sweet  to  them.  They  have  tried  the  bitter  and 
the  sweet :  nearly  all  the  grown  people  have  been 
slaves;.  - 

My  master  set  his  slaves  free,  —  some  three  hundred 
of  them.  Some  were  sold  again,  by  breaking  of  the 
will,  or  in  some  way.  My  brother  George  and  I  should 
have  received  some  fifteen  thousand  dollars  apiece,  but 
for  the  same  reason.  I  went  to  meeting  on  a  Sunday 
after  I  had  seen  the  gang  chained,  but  the  preaching, 
did  me  no  good. 

I  knew  a  man  at  the  South  who  had  six  children  by 
a  colored  slave.  Then  there  was  a  fuss  between  him 
and  his  wife,  and  he  sold  all  the  children  but  the  oldest 
slave  daughter.  Afterward,  he  had  a  child  by  this 
daughter,  and  sold  mother  and  child  before  tlie  birth. 
This  was  f  forty  years  ago.     Such  things  are  done 

frequently  1  ^  inc  South.  One  brother  sells  the  other : 
1  have  seen  that  done.  True,  I  have  not  seen  any  bar- 
barities, as  some  have. 

The  colored  children  can  all  go  to  school  here  in  Gralt, 
and  are  generally  sent  to  school.  The  black  horse  and 
the  white  are  both  ignorant :  there  is  prejudice  on  both 
sides.  When  I  came  here,  colored  children  were  not 
received  into  the  schools.  I  fought,  and  fought,  and 
fought,  and  at  last  it  got  to  the  governor,  and  the  law 
was  declared,  that  all  had  equal  rights.  Colored  people 
were  scarce  in  Canada  twenty-six  years  ago.  There 
were  but  five  in  Toronto. 


12 


Ifc 


138 


\\ 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


HENRY  GOWENS. 


I  have  had  a  wide  experience  of  the  evils  of  slavery, 
in  my  own  person,  and  have  an  extensive  knowledge  of 
the  horrors  of  sis  cry,  in  all  their  length  and  breadth, 
having  witnessed  them  in  Old  Virginia,  North  Carolina, 
New  Virginia,  Tennessee,  Alabama,  and  JVIississippi. 
I  belonged  in  the  State  of  Virginia,  and  am,  I  suppose, 
about  forty  years  old.  Were  I  to  write  out  all  my  ex- 
periences and  what  I  have  observed,  (and  I  intend  to 
do  this,  having  commenced  already)  it  would  make 
quite  a  large  volume.  In  Humphreys  Co.  on  the  Ten- 
nessee River,  were  one  hundred  and  ten  slaves ;  I  wit- 
nessed their  treatment  with  a  heartache.  In  Alabama,  t 
I  know  how  two  plantations,  of  one  liundred  and  fifty, 
and  one  hundred  and  thirty  each,  were  managed,  who 
were  whipped  and  slashed  under  the  kindest  overseers 
they  had,  —  and  when  they  had  a  hard  overseer,  there 
was  no  peace  at  all.  It  was  whip,  whip,  continually, 
old  and  young ;  nobody  got  too  old  to  be  clear  of  the 
lash.  It  seemed  as  if  the  whipping  had  to  be  done, 
whether  the  work  was  done  or  not.  My  own  master 
was  kind  at  first,  but  as  he  grew  older,  he  grew  more 
and  more  severe,  getting  overseers  who  were  harder  and 
harder.  ^  k  !» 

Aboui.  the  first  of  Gen.  Jackson's  Presidency,  my 
master  employed  an  overseer,  named  Kimball,  over  one 
hundred  and  thirty  slaves,  in  Lauderdale  Co.,  Alabama,  i 
This  Kimball  was  one  of  the  most  cruel  men  I  ever 
saw.  When  he  commenced,  all  the  field  hands  were 
called  together  on  Sunday  morning,  up  to  the  great 
house,  and  then  Mr.  Kimball,  a  well  dressed  srentleman 
in  appearance,  and  a  fine  looking  man,  walked  out  in 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW   OP  SLAVERY. 


139 


company  with  my  master.  The  master  said,  "  Th^se , 
are  my  l*  u.i?;  that  I  now  give  up  to  you ;  take  charge 
tif  them  ind  manage  them  to  the  best  of  your  judg- 
ment." He  gave  the  names  of  the  foremen  of  the 
gangs,  and  pointed  them  out  to  Mr.  K . :  then  the  names 
of  the  men  who  had  charge  of  the  women  in  ploughing ; 
then  the  name  of  the  man  who  had  charge  of  the  wo- 
men in  grubbing :  and  so  he  went  through  all  the  differ- 
ent portions  of  work  that  were  done  on  the  plantation. 

Then  Mr.  Kimball  spoke  to  Donnison,  one  of  the 
principal  men,  a  field  hand,  and  to  each  one  severally, 
so  that  all  could  understand  what  his  charges  were. 
He  told  them  what  his  rules  were,  and  what  should  be 
law :  "  I  give  you  a  horn,  Donnison,  to  blow  two  hours 
before  day :  and  recollect,  every  one  of  you,  every  man, 
every  woman,  and  every  boy  and  girl  who  is  able  to 
work,  is  to  be  up  within  the  hour  after  the  horn  blows: 
at  the  end  of  that  hour,  every  one  is  to  be  found  start- 
ing out  of  their  doors,  making  ready  for  the  field.  If 
you  have  any  morning  bits,"  (these  they  are  to  provide 
for  themselves  in  the  best  way  they  can,  otherwise, 
they  have  nothing  to  eat  until  12  o'clock ,  the  calcula- 
tion being,  for  the  slaves,  two  meals  a  day,)  "  you  can 
take  them  with  you :  but  no  time  will  be  allowed  to 
eat  them  until  twelve.  This  is  my  lav/,  and  I  give  it 
not  thinking  that  you  will  forget  it.  If  you  forget  it,  I 
will  not,  but  will  remember  it  by  throwing  the  lash 
well  on  your  hide."  A  most  horrible  man !  "  You 
recollect  I  don't^whip  any  of  you  with  a  chemise  on, 
nor  with  a  jacket  on  your  backs.  I  get  at  the  naked 
skin.  If  I  find  any  of  you  lagging  back  after  the  last 
horn  blows,  I  shall  whip  you  up  to  the  spot  where  the 

T»  .',  \rl»-  ia   fr»  Viet  r1r\n«a  "        TVT\r  maa-tor  rrQUTo   Tl<-»nnia/^ri  a  -firuf- 

rat    English  watch  to  keep   his  time   and  blow  the 


140 


mm  refugee;  ok  a 


lorn  by.  After  Kimball  had  given  his  charge,  my  mas- 
ter spoke  to  all  the  people  again :  he  id,  "  I  want 
every  one  of  you  to  remember  that  you  are  not  to  come 
to  me  with  any  complaints  against  the  overseer,  for  I 
have  nothing  to  do  with  you.  If  you  have  any  com- 
plaints even  among  yourselves,  you  must  go  to  the 
overseer;  nor  are  you  to  go  to  your  mistress  at  any 
time  with  any  complaints  against  the  overseer.  If  I 
know  one  of  you  to  do  it,  either  man  or  woman,  I  will 
give  a  note  to  the  overseer,  and  he  r  i^all  not  hit  on  you 
less  than  a  hundred  lashes  on  your  bare  back." 

On  Monday  morning,  all  were  up  to  the  mark. 
Tuesday  morning,  I  was  awakened  by  the  noise  of  the 
lash,  with  cries  and  groans.  From  this  time  the  lash 
was  going  every  morning,  and  in  the  course  of  the  day.  \V 
I  was  a  house-servant,  and  so  was  exempt  from  Kim- 
ball's orders,  but  my  heart  ached  to  see  the  suffering 
and  punishment  that  our  people  had  to  undergo. 
Things  went  on  so  the  whole  year.  The  people  were 
afraid  to  go  to  the  master  or  mistress  under  the  suffer- 
ings they  endured  from  the  torment  and  sting  of  the 
lash.  In  the  course  of  about  six  months  from  the  time 
Kimball  took  charge,  some  two  or  three  ran  away,  he 
was  so  severe.  That  was  a  new  thing  to  my  master. 
He  sent  word  by  slaves  that  if  they  saw  the  runaways, 
to  tell  them  if  they  would  come  home  and  go  to  work, 
they  should  not  be  whipped.  Then  they  would  come 
in.  This  running  off  happened  occasionally  all  through 
the  remaining  part  of  the  year.  ^    ,  .  v^  , 

In  the  picking  cotton  season,  Mr.  K.  would  punish 
the  women  in  the  severest  manner,  because  they  did  not 
pick  cotton  fast  enough.  He  would  thrust  their  heads 
into  a  cotton  basket.  What  I  say  now  would  scarcely 
be  believed  only  among  those  who  are  in  that  neigh- 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP   SLAVERY. 


141 


borhood,  because  it  looks  too  cruel  for  any  one  to  do 
or  to  believe,  if  they  had  no  experience  of  such  things 
or  had  not  seen  the  like,  —  they  would  not  dare  lift  up 
their  heads,  as  perhaps  he  would  punish  them  twi^e  as 
much.  Then  he  would  throw  their  clothes  u\  over 
their  heads  and  the  basket,  and  flog  them  as  hard  as  he 
could  with  a  rugged  lash,  cutting  their  flesh  terribly, 
till  the  blood  ran  to  their  heels.  Sometimes  they  would 
from  the  torment  lift  their  head^,  when  he  would  per- 
haps give  them  a  third  more  than  he  otherwise  would ; 
and  this  without  reference  to  any  particular  condition 
they  might  be  in  at  the  time.  The  men  he  would  gener- 
ally place  across  a  log,  tie  their  hands  together,  and  their 
feet  together,  and  put  a  rail  through  under  the  log  with 
the  ends  between  their  feet  and  hands ;  and  in  this  con- 
dition, which  is  itself  painful,  he  would  apply  the  lash. 
Sometimes,  to  cramp  down  the  mind  of  the  husband, 
he  would  compel  him  to  assist  in  the  punishment  of  his 
wife.  Who  will  tell  of  the  good  of  slavery  ?  I  would 
rather  be  a  brute  in  the  field,  than  to  endure  what  my 
people  have  to  endure,  what  they  have  endured  in 
many  parts  of  the  slave-holding  States. 

There  was  one  religious  old  woman.  Aunt  Dinah,  — 
very  pious :  all  believed  she  was,  even  my  master.  Sh** 
used  to  take  care  of  the  infants  at  the  quarters  while 
the  mothers  were  out  at  work.  At  noon,  the  mothers 
would  come  home  to  nurse  their  children,  unless  they 
were  too  far  ofl' —  then  the  infants  wevo  carried  to  them. 
Aunt  Dinah,  knowing  how  cruelly  the  women  were 
treated,  at  last,  when  the  master  was  absent,  picked  up 
courage  to  go  to  the  mistress  and  complain  of  the  deal- 

My   mistress   belonged  to  the 


ings   of  the   overseer. 

13 u,.j. — :„„   r^i .u  . 


xxuiit  j/iiiaii    tw   tiiV3   AjciLUjiaVt       J.  lie 


4 


t ' 


M 


uy 


mistress  then  began  to  my  master  abouc  the  cruelty  on 


/ 


142 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


.v*--* 


the  place,  without  disclosing  how  she  got  her  informa- 
tion. I  do  not  think  the  master  would  have  interfered, 
were  it  not  that  the  mistress  also  told  him  of  the  over- 
seer't^  intimacy  with  some  of  the  female  slaves.  She 
being  a  well-bred  lady,  the  master  Iiad  to  take  some 
notice  of  the  management.  He  told  the  overseer  to 
change  his  mode  of  punishing  the  women  ;  to  slip  their 
clothes  down  from  their  shoulders,  and  punish  them  on 
their  backs.  No  interference  was  ever  made  except  in 
this  one  instance. 

The  overseer  had  one  child  by  a  slave  woman.  I  left 
the  child  there  a  slave.  At  the  expiration  of  a  year 
K'.mball  left.  Three  months  after,  or  thereabouts,  he 
was  hanged  in  Raleigh,  N.  C,  for  the  murder  of  his^ 
step-father.  The  slaves  were  rejoiced  at  his  b  ing  hung, ' 
and  thought  he  ought  to  have  been  hung  oefore  he  came 
there  to  be  overseer. 

I  effected  my  escape  about  sixteen  years  ago.  I  was 
questioned  twice  about  papers,  but  got  through  it  with- 
out much  difficulty.  I  escaped  from  Alabama.  I  shall 
give  the  particulars  more  in  detail  when  I  publish  the 
whole  history  of  my  life  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada. 

The  colored  people  can  do  as  well  in  Canada  ass  they 
could  in  the  United  States  under  any  circumstances. 
Even  in  the  free  States  they  are  accounted  as  nothing, 
or  next  to  nothing.  But  in  Canada,  all  are  really  free 
aiid  equal.  Color  is  not  recognized  in  the  laws  of  the 
land.  During  all  the  time  I  have  lived  in  Canada,  no 
white  person  has  suffered  any  inconvenience,  or  had 
f'pjise  to  complain,  because  I  was  placed  on  an  equality 
•\  ^im.  They  come  here  destitute  of  any  advantages 
-  'r,  they  are  getting  along  in  a  respectable,  upright 
Vvi^y,  a.id  there  is  plenty  of  work  for  them.     If  the  col- 


-I 


NORTH-SIDE   VIBW   OF   SLAVERY. 


143 


ored  people  had  come  into  Canada  with  a  knowledge 
of  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic,  there  v  juld  now  be 
no  difference  between  them  and  white  people,  in  respect 
to  property  or  business.  They  would  have  been  just  as 
skilful,  just  as  far  advanced  in  art  and  science  as  the 
whites.  But  they  have  to  contend  with  the  ignorance 
which  slavery  has  brought  upon  them.  Still  they  are 
doing  well,  —  no  one  could  expect  them  to  do  any 
better. 

Every  thinking,  every  candid  man  that  knows  me, 
knows  that  I  would  not  utter  any  thing  that  is  not  true. 

How  raiuch  longer,  in  the  name  of  Goci,  shall  my 
people  remain  in  their  state  of  degradation  under  the 
American  republic  ? 


MRS.  HENRY  GOWENS. 

My  name  in  the  South  was  Martha  Martin.  When 
I  came  to  the  North  I  took  the  name  of  Martha  Bentley 
—  Bentley  being  my  mother's  name   before  she  was 

married.     My  father  was  my  master,   Mr.  ,  who 

died  in  3.843.  He  lived  in  Georgia,  but  removed  with 
one  set  of  farm  hands  to  Mississippi.  He  had  one  other 
child  by  my  mother,  but  it  died  young.  He  liberated 
all  the  children  he  had  by  my  mother,  and  one  other 
slave  woman,  with  one  exception  —  that  was  a  daugh- 
ter whom  he  had  educated  and  put  to  the  milliner's 
trade.  After  she  had  learned  the  trade,  he  went  to  the 
place  where  she  was,  with  money  to  establish  her  in 
business.  But  he  found  she  had  two  children  by  a 
white  man.     This  so  enraged  him,  that  he  carried  her 


M  'i 


liM 


144 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


and  her  two  children  back  to  his  farm,  and  put  her  to 
work  in  the  field,  and  there,  he  said,  she  was  to  die. 
The  father  of  the  two  children  came  on,  and  offered 
two  thousand  dollars  for  the  woman  and  the  children, 
as  he  wished  to  marry  her.  But  her  father  would 
neither  let  him  have  her  nor  his  children.  Afterwards 
he  offered  three  thousand  dollars,  —  then  five  other 
grown-up  slaves,  for  Minerva  and  tiie  two  ciiildren ;  but 
my  master  told  him  he  would  not,  but  if  he  ever  set 
foot  on  the  farm  again,  he  would  blow  his  brains  out. 
So,  I  suppose,  they  are  slaves  yet,  aii'l  will  be  :  for  their 
mistress  never  was  disposed  to  sell;  she  would  rather 
keep  them  and  punish  them,  on  account  of  his  having 
so  many  wives.  But  he  had  told  her  beforehand,  and^ 
said  she  need  not  find  fault  with  it :  all  his  wives  were ' 
equally  well  used.  Keep  on  the  right  side  of  him,  and 
he  was  very  kind :  every  slave  would  be  well  treated. 
He  did  not  mind  if  they  stole  from  him,  but  if  they 
stole  from  another  man,  he  would  whip  them.  He  was 
Scotch  Irish. 

My  mother  had  been  set  free  on  the  eastern  shore  of 
Maryland,  in  this  way.  My  mother's  mistress  promised 
my  mother's  mother  (who  was  at  the  time  free)  that  on 
her  death  she  would  set  my  mothrr  free.  When  she 
died,  she  left  her  to  wait  on  her  niece  until  the  niece 
died,  she  being  very  low,  —  then  her  free  papers  were  to 
be  given  her.  That  was  in  the  white  woman's  will. 
The  niece  died  in  two  or  three  weeks,  and  then  they 
talked  of  selling  my  mother  to  the  traders,  because  they 
had  got  so  little  work  out  of  her.  Then  they  all  —  the 
whole  family — ran  away  into  New  Jersey.  My  master 
bought  them  running,  and  kidnapped  my  mother  and 
her  cousin's  family,  although  he  knew  the  circumstan- 
ces, and  that  they  were  entithd  to  their  freedom. 


.\ 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


145 


When  I  was  twelve  years  old,  my  father  took  me  to 
Cincinnati.  He  charged  me  to  marry  neither  a  white 
man  nor  a  black  man :  if  I  should,  he  would  take  me 
back  south,  and  put  me  on  the  farm.  There  he  paid 
one  year's  tuition  in  advance,  and  money  for  shoes,  — 
we  had  clothes  enough.  Two  others  went  with  me,  — 
one  a  half  brother,  the  other  a  half  sister.  But  I  was 
cheated  out  of  my  education :  for  the  guardian  in  Cin- 
cinnati kept  the  money,  but  did  not  send  me  to  school, 
excepting  one  year :  whereas  I  was  to  have  gone  three. 
When  my  father  heard  of  this,  he  started  on  to  see  to 
it,  but  fell  sick  and  died  before  he  got  there.  He  was 
a  large,  heavy  man,  and  had  been  liable  to  sudden  fits  of 
illness.  When  these  came  on,  he  would  be  frightened 
very  much,  and  would  send  for  some  of  the  pious  slaves 
to  come  in  and  pray  for  him.  He  was  a  very  wealthy 
man,  and  always  said  he  would  leave  me  in  comfortable 
circumstances.  But  the  money  which  he  sent  us  at 
different  times  was  kept  from  us,  and  it  may  be  that  he 
died  without  a  will. 

I  remained  in  the  northern  States  a  few  years,  and 
then  came  to  Canada.  I  have  five  smart  children,  and 
send  all  to  school  but  the  two  youngest.  I  mean  they 
shall  have  a  good  education ;  what  little  knowledge  I 
have,  has  just  made  me  hungry  for  more. 

My  mother  was  in  expectation  of  being  set  free,  but 
diu  not  get  her  free  papers.  She  was  religiously  in- 
clined, and  being  afraid  of  sinning,  and  thinking  she 
might  be  left  a  slave  after  all,  she  married  a  colored 
man  against  my  father's  consent.  For  this  reason,  she 
remains  a  slave  to  this  day,  as  I  suppose,  but  I  have 
not  heard  from  her  for  thirteen  years. 

I  remember  enough  of  slavery  and  have  heard  and 
seen  enough  of  it  to  know  that  it  is  unfavorable  to 

13 


.H.*%| 


M^'-i 


146 


nohth-side  view  op  slavery. 


virtue.  I  have  known  many  owners  to  have  two  or 
three  colored  women  for  wives,  and  when  they  got  a 
white  wife,  keep  all.  If  the  slave  woman  would  not 
comply  she  would  be  whipped,  or  else  sold  to  the  low- 
est, meanest  fellow  he  could  find.  Some  of  the  mas- 
ters have  their  slave  children's  hair  shaved  off,  so  that 
people  iv  lid  not  notice  that  they  favor  them.  I  have 
known  cases  of  this  kind  close  by  me  in  Mississippi. 


/    \ 


,,.,  .■«■•«;,. 


"•.  |.ffi^*il*-. 


u 


It 


\ 


LONDON. 


f  I 


This  city  contains  twelve  thousand  inhabitants,  throe 
hundred  and  fifty  of  whom  are  colored  iiersons.  \  Some 
of  the  latter  are  among  the  most  intelligent  and  respect- 
able citizens ;  but  others  do  not  improve  their  time  and 
opportunities  as  they  ought.  "  The  tyrant  who  held 
their  persons  in  the  chains  of  slavery,  stifled  their  souls 
"Iso  in  the  lude  grasp  of  ignorance  and  vice." 

The  common  schools  are  open  to  all,  without  distinc- 
tion of  color.  The  Union  School  has  an  average  daily 
attendance  of  184.  On  the  21st  of  June,  1855,  when 
the  writer  visited  it,  there  were  present  174  pupils  of 
both  sexes,  of  whom  13  were  colored.  In  the  St. 
George  School,  which  has  on  some  fortunate  days,  an 
attendance  of  190,  but  4  colored  children  were  present. 

The  principal  reason  for  this  neglect  of  common 
school  advantages  by  the  colored  people,  is  +i..^  )reju- 
dice  of  the  whites.  Many  of  the  whites  object  to  hav- 
ing their  children  sit  in  the  same  forms  with  the  colored 
pupils ;  and  some  of  the  lower  classes  will  not  send 
their  children  to  schools  where  the  blacks  are  admitted. 
Under  these  circumstances,  it  is  unpleasant  to  the  col- 
ored children  to  attend  the  public  schools  —  especially 
if  any  of  the  teachers  happen  to  be  victims  of  the  very 
prejudice  which  they  should  induce  others  to  overcome. 

(147) 


i 


ii 


w- 


m 


148 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


An  interesting  scene  was  presented  in  the  school  very 
recently  organized  by  Rev.  M.  M.  Dillon,  (late  Rector 
of  Dominica,)  and  Mr.  Ballantine,  lay-assistant,  under 
the  patronage  of  the  English  "  Colonial  Church  and 
School  Society."  Here  were  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  pupils  of  both  sexes  in  attendance,  fifty  of  whom 
were  colored.  The  writer  entered  the  school-room  at 
the  hour  of  recess.  The  children  were  neat  and  cleanly 
—  not  one  wore  the  appearance  of  dejection ;  all  were 
playing  in  the  inclosure  or  amusing  themselves  in  the 
room,  in  the  most  perfect  good-humor.  There  was  no 
separation  into  cliques,  —  black  was  playing  with  white, 
and  white  with  black. 

Rev.  Mr.  Dillon's  mission  is  to  minister  to  the  spirit-^ 
ual  wants  of  the  refugees,  and  to  establish  schools  of  a' 
high  order,  which  shall  afford  religious  and  secular  in- 
struction especially  to  the  children  of  fugitive  slaves ; 
the  schools,  however,  to  be  free  to  all  who  may  see  fit 
to  profit  by  their  advantages.  Both  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dil- 
lon and  Mr.  Ballantine  are  devoted  friends  of  the  negro 
race.  They  have  very  capable  assistants  in  two  young 
colored  ladies  from  the  West  Indies. 

At  a  signal,  the  scholars  arranged  themselves  in 
lines  on  the  floor,  and  then  filed  to  the  parts  of  the 
room  allotted  for  recitations.  Something  of  the  moni- 
torial system  was  observable ;  and  two  or  three  colored 
pupil-teachers  attended  to  the  reading  from  the  Scrip- 
tures, of  as  many  classes,  composed  indiscriminately  of 
whites  and  blacks.  ; 

The  "  Colonial  Church  and  School  Society "  is  a 
union  and  extension  of  the  "  Newfoundland  School 
Society,"  organized  more  than  thirty  years  ago,  and  of 
the  "  Colonial  Church  Soc'sty,"  which  has  existed  about 
twenty  years.     It  is  composed  of  the  highest  dignita- 


\ 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OF   SLAVERY. 


149 


ries  of  Great  Britain  both  in  church  and  State.  The 
object  of  the  Society  is  "  to  send  Clergymen,  Catechists, 
and  Schoolmasters  to  the  Colonies  of  Great  Britain, 
and  to  British  residents  in  other  parts  of  the  world." 
"  The  religious  instruction  in  all  schools  maintained 
wholly  or  in  part  by  the  Society,  shall  be  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  (except  in  cases  where  the  parents  or 
guardians  of  the  children  formally  object)  in  the  for- 
mularies of  the  Church  of  England." 

The  accommodations  for  the  Society's  school  in  Lon- 
don are  found  to  be  insufficient,  as  the  numbers  in  at- 
tendance are  rapidly  increasing.  A  new  building  is 
shortly  to  be  erected,  which  will  afford  ample  room  for 
five  hundred  pupils.  Five  or  six  similar  schools  are  to 
be  organized  forthwith  in  other  parts  of  the  province. 
This  is  a  noble  charity,  and  full  of  the  most  hopeful 
auguries  for  the  colored  population  of  Canada. 

The  condition  of  the  colored  people  in  and  about 
London,  may  be  gathered  from  the  testimonies  which 
follow,  given  by  those  who  are  able  to  draw  from  their 
own  experience  the  contrast  between  slavery  and  lib- 
erty. 


ABY  B.  JONES. 

I  was  formerly  a  field  hand  in  Madison  Co.,  Ky.,  — 
remained  there  until  thirty  years  of  age.  My  treatment 
was  not  harsh,  —  nor  was  there  any  hard  treatment  in 
the  neighborhood.  - 

My  brother  was  set  free  in  this  way  :  his  master  was 
a  millwright,  and  told  him  if  he  would  serve  him  so 
many  years  he  would  set  him  free.    He  did  so,  —  mean- 

13* 


\  • 


150 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


m 


v\  I  m 


-.i^'-^^^ 


while  building  a  large  merchant  mill,  and  employing 
my  brother  in  it.  My  brother  was  subsequently  em- 
ployed in  this  mill  as  a  miller  and  received  high  wages, 
his  employer  thinking  there  never  was  such  a  man, 
from  his  trustworthiness  and  the  general  confidence 
he  could  repose  in  him.  His  good  opportunities  ena- 
bled him  to  advance  nearly  money  enough  to  free  my- 
self and  a  younger  brother,  —  the  deficiency  we  bor- 
rowed, and  afterward  paid  up.  The  sum  paid  for  the 
two  was  seven  hundred  dollars ;  our  mastep  favoring  us 
in  the  price. 

I  was  never  sent  to  any  school.  Since  I  have  been 
free  I  have  learned  to  read  and  write. 

Yet,  although  I  was  nominally  free,  and  had  free  pa- 
pers, I  did  not  consider  myself  free  in  the  eye  of  the'; 
law :  the  freedom  was  limited.  The  papers  said  I  was 
to  have  as  much  liberty  as  was  allowed  to  a  free  man 
of  color.  I  saw  at  once  that  I  was  not  really  free ;  that 
there  was  a  distinction  made.  I  wished  then  to  emi- 
grate „  to  some  place  where  I  could  be  really  a  free 

MAN. 

I  heard  that  in  Canada  colored  men  were  free ;  tht-ie- 
fore  I  came  here,  and  am  only  sorry  to  say  that  I  did 
not  come  years  before  I  did.  > 

When  I  came  here  I  was  not  worth  one  cent.  I  nei- 
ther begged  nor  received  a  farthing  of  money.  I  went 
to  work  at  once,  and,  by  the  blessing  of  the  Lord,  I 
was  prospered,  and  have  placed  my  family  beyond  the 
reach  of  want. 

I  am  satisfied,  that  any  colored  man  coming  to  Can- 
ada, can,  in  a  few  years,  accumulate  property  to  give 
himself  and  family  a  living. 

Slavery  is,  I  believe,  the  most  abominable  system 
that  ever  men  were  subjected  to.     Although  my  treat- 


\ 


NORTH-SIDB  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


161 


merit  was  not  severe,  I  never  could  form  a  good  opin- 
ion of  slavery.  I  believe  it  ruinous  to  the  mind  of  man, 
in  that  it  keeps  the  key  of  knowledge  from  him  i  it  is 
stupefying  to  man.  I  believe  that  all  men  should  be 
made  free  at  once. 

The  future  prospects  of  the  colored  people  of  Can- 
ada are  very  favorable.  All  that  is  required  of  them 
is,  to  use  industry  in  common  with  white  people.  The 
colored  children  and  white  children  are  educated  to- 
gether in  this  place,  and  I  see  as  fair  an  advancement 
in  one  as  in  the  other. 

The  colored  people  usually  attend  divine  service : 
some  in  the  same  societies  with  the  whites ;  others 
maintain  separate  churches.  But  I  do  not  think  it  advis- 
able to  have  separate  churches.  In  this  place  the  door 
is  open  into  all  the  churches  of  the  denominations  that 
the  colored  people  profess,  therefore  I  think  those  lines 
of  distinction  drawn  by  the  colored  people  themselves 
will  soon  be  put  down.     I  speak  of  London. 

I  think  there  is  as  much  morality  and  temperance 
among  the  colored  people  as  among  any  others. 

The  amount  required  for  supplying  the  wants  of  fu- 
gitives is  so  small,  that  it  is  hardly  worth  talking  about. 
It  can  be  silently  raised  in  the  towns  by  contribution, 
without  any  stirring  appeals  to  the  public.  Where 
there  is  work  to  be  done  and  money  to  pay  for  it,  pe- 
cuniary assistance  does  more  hurt  than  good. 

[Mr.  Jones,  whose  testimony  is  given  above,  resides  on  Gray  St  in 
a  brick  dwelling-house,  as  good  or  better  than  the  average  of  houses 
in  London.  In  front  is  a  garden  of  choice  flowers,  and  it  has  a  well- 
ordered  kitchen  garden  in  the  rear.  The  estate,  deducting  the  incum- 
brance of  ground-rent,  is  worth  about  four  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  J. 
owns  other  property  in  various  parts  of  the  city, — a  brick  building, 
in  the  business  quarter,  comprising  two  stores  which  rents  for  between 
seven  hundred  and  eight  hundred  dollars  per  annum, — and  several 


ii 


I 


\  s 


152 


„^'' 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


building  lots  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  freight  depot  of  the 
Great  Western  Railway.    Mr.  J.  is  of  unmixed  African  blood.] 


ALFRED  T.  JONES. 

I  keep  an  apothecary  shop  on  Ridout  street.  I  be- 
longed in  Madison  Co.,  Ky.  I  have  made  an  arrange- 
ment with  my  master  to  purchase  my  freedom  for  $350. 
This  was  in  1833,  when  I  was  twenty-three  years  old. 
But  before  the  business  was  completed,  I  learned  that 
my  master  was  negotiating  with  another  party  to  sell 
me  for  $400.  Upon  this,  I  wrote  for  myself  a  pass  — 
it  was  not  spelled  correctly,  but  nobody  there  supposed 
that  a  slave  could  write  at  all.  I  had  to  exhibit  it  but 
once  on  my  way. 

I  stopped  a  month  at  St.  Catharines,  then  came  to 
London,  and  have  remained  here  ever  since. 

The  people  from  the  old  country,  being  many  of  them 
unaccustomed  to  colored  people,  have  some  strange 
ideas  respecting  us :  a  sort  of  "  second-hand  prejudice," 
as  "Ward  calls  it.  The  majority  of  the  people  of  color 
who  come  over  here  are  not  such  as  give  a  very  good 
idea  of  what  the  people  of  color  really  are.  They  are 
not  refined  and  educated.  But  as  some  years  are 
passed  since  the  colored  men  began  to  come  in,  thei-e  is 
an  improvement  perceptible. 

There  are  colored  people  employed  in  this  city  in 
almost  all  the  mechanic  arts ;  also  in  grocery  and  pro- 
vision stores,  etc.  Many  are  succeeding  well,  are  buy- 
ing houses,  speculating  in  lands,  and  some  are  living  on 
the  interest  of  their  money. 

I  expect  to  go  to  England  sliortly  on  a  suit  at  law 


i" 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW   OP  SLAVERY. 


153 


involving  my  title  to  a  large  property  on  Dundas  street, 
valued  at  $45,000.  The  case  has  been  through  chancery 
in  the  provincial  court,  and  I  have  now  appealed  to  the 
House  of  Lords.  I  am  winding  up  my  business  pre- 
paratory to  leaving. 


NELSON  MOSS. 

I  have  lived  in  a  slave  State  all  my  life  until  seven 
years  ago.  I  am  now  forty-five.  I  lived  three  years  in 
Pennsylvania,  in  which  State  I  suffered  more  from  pre- 
judice than  in  Virginia,  and  there  is  a  great  deal  here 
in  London,  but  net  so  much  as  in  Pennsylvania.  I  got 
along  well,  having  energy  to  attend  to  business  properly. 
I  carry  on  the  boot  and  shoe  business.  I  was  never 
sent  to  school  in  my  life,  and  it  is  a  loss  to  me  not  to 
know  how  to  keep  accounts ;  but  I  am  able  to  employ 
another  to  do  it  for  me. 

I  did  not  leave  Pennsylvania  so  much  on  account  of 
the  prejudice,  as  on  that  of  the  fugitive  slave  bill.  I 
did  not  like  to  live  in  a  country  which  was  governed  by 
a  partial  law.  I  made  considerable  sacrifice  in  break- 
ing up. 

The  laws  here  are  impartial.  We  have  access  to  !;he 
public  schools  here,  and  can  have  our  children  educated 
with  the  white  children.  If  the  children  grow  up  to- 
gether, prejudice  will  not  be  formed. 

There  are  a  large  majority  \  r.o  are  industrious;  a 
few  are  wealthy ;  a  good  many  are  well  off.  '^here  are 
not  many  who  are  dissolute  and  abandoned  —  not  so 
many  in  proportion  as  of  the  whites,  taking  every  thing 
into  consideration.     If  there  are  some  who  are  not  so 


* 


r-«- 


w 


16-1 


.■'^' 


THE  REFUGE":   OR  A 


industrious  as  they  should  be,  it  is  easily  accounted  for. 
Solomon  sov;  ■  rrain  up  a  child  in  the  way  he  should 
go,  and  whea  e  is  old,  he  will  not  depart  from  it."  It's 
a  bad  rule  that  don't  work  both  ways:  they  have  been 
trained  in  a  way  they  should  not  go.  Accustomed  to 
be  driven  when  they  work,  it  :3  no  wonder  that  they 
do  n't  work  so  smartly  a.-'  they  would  otherwise.  But 
in  the  face  of  this,  I  know  many  colored  incn  who  came 
here  fugitive  slaves,  who  came  hero  without  any  thing 
to  help  thomseives  with,  not  evni  tnoney  for  a  night's 
lodgin,!',  and  who  had  nothing  given  to  them,  whtJ  nov* 
have  a  \iO>i-ie  and  land  of  their  own.  it  is  not  neccssarjr 
to  gives  v.,  tagitive  iiioncy —  it  may  make  him  lazy  and 
dependent.     AM  'tn   nve'h  to  hav(^  given  him  is  work. 

Nearly  all  the  grown  cui ored  people  have  been  slaves. 
Of  course,  tbt-y  aro  lici  capable  of  instructing  their 
children  well  ilieiiiselvt's,  —  but,  under  the  free  schools, 
I  am  of  opinion  that  Ave  are  progressing  - 


\\ 


FRANCIS  HENDERSON. 

■if,  ■ 

I  escaped  from  slavery  in  Washington  City,  D.  C,  in 
1841,  aged  nineteen.  I  was  not  sent  to  school  when  a 
boy,  and  had  no  educational  advantages  at  all.  My 
masters  family  were  Church  of  England  people  them- 
selves and  wished  me  to  attend  there.  I  do  not  know 
my  age,  but  suppose  thirty-three. 

I  worked  on  a  plantation  from  about  ten  years  old 
till  Ki^  escape.     They  raised  wheat,  corn,  tobacco,  and. 
vegetauies,  —  about   forty   slaves    on    the   place.     My 
father  was  a  mulatto,  my  mother  dark;  they  had  thi 
teen  children,  of  whom  I  ^^'as  the  only  son.     O"  tl;  i 


'.* 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


155 


plantation  the  mulattoes  were  more  despised  than  the 
whole  blood  blacks.  I  often  wished  from  the  fact  of 
my  condition  that  I  had  been  darker.  My  sisters 
suffered  from  the  same  cause.  I  could  frequently  hear 
the  mistress  say  to  them,  "you  yellow  hussy!  you  yel- 
low wench  ! "  etc.  The  language  to  me  generally  was, 
♦'go  do  so  and  so."  But  if  a  hoe-handle  were  broken 
or  any  thing  went  wrong,  it  would  be  every  sort  of  a 
wicked  expression  —  so  bad  I  do  not  like  to  say  what 
— ^  very  profane  and  coarse. 

Our  houses  were  but  log  huts  —  the  tops  partly  open 
— -  ground  floor,  —  rain  would  come  through.  My  aunt 
was  quite  an  old  woman,  and  had  been  sick  several 
years :  in  rains  I  have  seen  her  moving  about  from  one 
part  of  the  house  to  the  other,  and  rolling  her  bedclothes 
about  to  try  to  keep  dry,  —  every  thing  would  be  dirty 
and  muddy.  I  lived  in  the  house  with  my  aunt.  My 
bed  and  bedstead  consisted  of  a  board  wide  enough  to 
sleep  on  —  one  end  on  a  stool,  the  other  placed  near  the 
fire.  My  pillow  consisted  of  my  jacket,  —  my  covering 
was  whatever  I  could  get.  My  bedtick  was  the  board 
itself.  And  this  was  the  way  the  single  men  slept,  — 
but  we  were  comfortable  in  this  way  of  sleeping,  being 
used  to  it.  I  only  remember  having  but  one  blanket 
from  my  owners  up  to-  the  age  of  19,  when  I  ran  away. 

Our  allowance  was  given  weekly  —  a  peck  of  sifted 
corn  meal,  a  dozen  and  a  half  herrings,  two  and  a  half 
pounds  of  pork.  Some  of  the  boys  would  eat  this  up 
in  three  days,  —  then  they  had  to .  steal,  or  they  could 
not  perform  their  dally  tasks.  They  would  visit  the 
hog-pen,  bl;  )>-]>  r,,  an.:  granaries.  I  do  not  remember 
OTie  slave  citwho  stole  somethings, — they  were  driven 
to  it  a  a  matter  of  necessitv.  I  mvself  did  this. — 
many  a  time  have  I,  with  others,  iun  among  the  stumps 


W- 


4 


v\ 


15(1 


ii.>r*' 


.^ 


THE  refugee:  or  a 


in  chase  of  a  sheep,  that  we  might  have  something  to 
eat.  If  colored  men  steal,  it  is  because  they  are  brought 
up  to  it.  In  regard  to  cooking,  sometimes  many  have 
to  cook  at  one  fire,  and  before  all  could  get  to  the  fire 
to  bake  hoe  cakes,  the  overseer's  horn  would  sound : 
then  they  must  go  at  any  rate.  Many  a  time  I  have 
gone  along  eating  a  piece  of  bread  and  meat,  or  herring 
broiled  on  the  coals  —  I  never  sat  down  at  a  table  to 
eat,  except  in  harvest  time,  all  the  time  I  was  a  slave. 
In  harvest  time,  the  cooking  is  done  at  the  great  house, 
as  the  hands  are  wanted  more  in  the  field.  This  was 
more  like  people,  and  we  liked  it,  for  we  sat  down  then 
at  meals.  In  the  summer  we  had  one  pair  of  linen 
trousers  given  us  —  nothing  else ;  every  fall,  one  \  lir  of  u 
woollen  pantaloons,  one  woollen  jacket,  and  two  cotton 
shirts. 

My  master  had  four  sons  in  his  family.  They  all  left 
except  one,  who  remained  to  be  a  driver.  He  would 
often  come  to  the  field  and  accuse  the  slaves  of  having 
taken  so  and  so.  If  we  denied  it,  he  would  whip  the 
grown-up  ones  to  make  them  own  it.  Many  a  time, 
when  we  did  n't  know  he  was  anywhere  round,  he  would 
be  in  the  woods  watching  us,  —  first  thing  we  would 
know,  he  would  be  sitting  on  the  fence  looking  down 
upon  us,  and  if  any  had  been  idle,  the  young  master 
would  visit  him  with  blows.  I  have  known  him  to  kick 
my  aunt,  an  old  woman  who  had  raised  and  nursed 
him,  and  I  have  seen  him  punish  my  sisters  awfully  with 
hickoiies  from  the  woods. 

The  slaves  are  watched  by  the  patrols,  who  ride  about 
to  try  to  catch  them  off  the  quarters,  especially  at  the 
house  of  a  free  person  of  color.  I  have  known  the  slaves 
to  stretch  clothes  lines  across  the  street,  high  enough  to 
let  the  horse  pass,  but  not  the  rider:  then  the  boys 


\ 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


167 


would  run,  and  the  patrols  in  full  chase  would  be  thrown 
off  by  running  against  the  lines.  The  patrols  are  poor 
white  men,  who  live  by  plundering  and  stealing,  getting 
rewards  for  runaways,  and  setting  up  little  shops  on  the 
public  roads.  They  will  take  whatever  the  slaves  steal, 
paying  in  money,  whiskey,  or  whatever  the  slaves  want. 
They  take  pigs,  sheep,  wheat,  corn,  —  any  thing  that^s 
raised  they  encourage  the  slaves  to  steal :  these  they 
take  to  market  next  day.  It 's  all  speculation  —  all  a 
matter  of  self-interest,  and  when  the  slaves  run  away, 
these  same  traders  catch  them  if  they  can,  to  get  the 
reward.  If  the  slave  threatens  to  expose  his  traffic,  he 
does  not  care  —  for  the  slave's  word  is  good  for  nothing 
—  it  would  not  be  taken.  There  li.t  frequent  quarrels 
between  the  slaves  and  the  poor  white  men.  About  the 
city  on  Sundays,  the  slaves,  many  of  them,  being  fond 
of  dress,  would  appear  nicely  clad,  which  seemed  to 
provoke  the  poor  white  men.  I  have  had  them  curse 
and  damn  me  on  this  account.  They  would  say  to  me, 
"  Where  are  yon  going?  Who  do  you  belong  to ? "  I 
would  tell  them, — then,  "  Where  did  you  get  them 
clothes?  I  wish  you  belonged  to  me  —  I'd  dress  you 
up  ! "  Then  I  have  had  them  throw  water  on  me.  One 
time  I  had  bought  a  new  fur  hat,  and  one  of  them  threw 
a  watermelon  rind,  and  spoiled  the  hat.  Sometimes  I 
have  seen  them  throw  a  slave's  hat  on  the  ground,  and 
trample  on  it.  He  would  pick  it  up,  fix  it  as  well  as  he 
could,  put  it  on  his  head,  and  walk  on.  The  slave  had 
no  redress,  but  would  sometimes  take  a  petty  revenge 
on  the  man's  horse  or  saddle,  or  something  of  that  sort. 
I  knew  a  free  man  of  color,  who  had  a  wife  on  a 
plantation.  The  patrols  went  to  his  house  in  the  night 
time  —  he  would  not  let  them  in;  they  broke  in  and 
beat  him:  r-     -      killed  him.     The  next  morning  he 

14 


V. 


.1 


/ 


I  i 


158 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


went  before  the  magistrates,  bloody  and  dirty  just  as  he 
was.  All  the  redress  he  got  was,  that  he  had  no  right 
to  resist  a  white  man. 

An  old  slaveholder  marrior'  i^to  the  family,  who  iii- 
trodiicsd  a  new  way  of  vvr.ii.pi.g,  —  he  used  to  br^ 
that  he  could  pick  a  •  Jii^^Oi  s  '  back  as  he  would  a 
chicken's.  I  went  to  live  with  him.  There  was  one 
man  that  he  used  to  whip  every  day,  because  he  was  a 
foolish,  peevish  man.  He  would  cry  when  +he  master 
undertook  to  punish  him.  If  a  man  iiad  any  spirii.,  and 
would  say,  "  I  am  working —  I  am  doing  all  I  can  do," 
he  would  let  im  alone,  —  but  there  was  a  good  deal  of 
flogging  nevcj  >  iieless. 

Just  before  I  came  away,  there  were  two  holidaysij- 
When  1  came  home  to  take  my  tur  ^  at  the  work,  mas- 
ter wanted  to  tie  me  up  for  a  whipping.  Said  he, 
"  You  yellow  rascal,  I  hate  you  in  my  sight."  I  resist- 
ed him,  and  told  liim  he  should  not  whip  me.  He 
called  his  son  —  they  both  tried,  and  wn  had  a  good 
deal  of  pulling  and  hauling.  They  could  not  get  me 
into  the  stable.  The  old  man  gave  up  first  —  then  the 
young  man  had  hold  of  me.  I  threw  him  against  the 
barn,  and  ran  to  the  woods.  The  young  man  followed 
on  horseback  with  a  gun.  I  borrowed  a  jacket,  my 
clothes  having  been  torn  )ff  in  tbe  scuflie,  and  made  for 
Washington  City,  with  the  intention  ot  putting  myself 
in  jail,  that  I  might  be  sold.  I  did  not  hurry,  as  it  was 
holiday.  In  about  an  hoar  or  so,  my  father  caiiie  for 
me  and  said  I  had  done  nothing.  I  ( old  him  I  would 
return  in  the  course  of  the  day,  ard  w  ut  in  time  for 
work  next  morning.  I  had  recenil  oin  od  the  Metho- 
dist Church,  and  from  the  sermons  1  h<  ard,  I  felt  that 
God  h^d  made  all  rnen  free  and  equal,  and  that  I 
ought  not  to  be  a  slave,  —  but  even  then,  that  I  ought 


\ 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF   ^SLAVERY. 


V 


*^59 


not  to  be  al>used.  From  this  tin  I  was  not  punished. 
I  think  my  master  became  afraid  of  me ;  when  he  pun- 
ished the  children,  I  would  go  and  stand  by,  and  look 
at  him,  —  he  was  afraid,  and  would  stop. 
.  I  belonged  to  the  Methodist  Church  in  Washington. 
My  master  said,  "  You  shan't  go  to  that  church  — 
they'll  put  the  devil  in  you."  He  meant  that  they 
would  put  me  up  to  running  off.  Then  many  were 
leaving ;  it  was  two  from  here,  three  from  there,  etc. 

—  perhaps   forty   or   fifty   a   v/eek.      was 

about  there  then.  I  heard  something  of  this :  master 
would  say,  "  Why  do  n't  you  work  faster  ?  I  know 
why  you  don't;  you're  thinking  about  running  off!" 
and  so  I  was  thinking,  sure  nough.  Men  would  dis- 
appear all  at  once :  a  man  who  was  working  by  me 
yesterday  would  be  gone  to-day,  —  how,  I  knew  not. 
I  really  believed  that  they  had  some  great  flying  ma- 
chine to  take  them  through  the  air.  Every  man  was 
c  1  the  look-out  for  runaways.  I  began  to  feel  uneasy, 
a. .  '  wanted    o  run  away  too.     I  sought  for  information 

—  all  the  beys  had  then  gone  from  the  place  but  just 
me.  '  happened  to  ask  in  the  right  quarter.  But  my 
owners  fomd  that  I  had  left  the  plantation  while  they 
had  gone  .  hurch.  They  took  steps  to  sell  me.  On 
the  next  night  I  left  the  plantation.  At  length  I  turned 
my  back  on  Washington,  and  had  no  difficulty  in  get- 
ting off.  Sixteen  persons  came  at  the  same  time  —  all 
men  —  I  was  the  youngest  of  the  lot. 

I  enjoy  freedom  as  all  other  hard-working  me\i  do, 
I  was  broken  up  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.  by  the  fugitive 
slave  bill.      *  •  =     ^      "^ 

There  is  much  prejuc  tee  here  against  us.  I  have 
always  minded  my  own  business  and  tried  to  deserve 
well.     At  one  time,  I  stopped  at  a  hotel  and  was  going 


\. 


m 


ii-j 


MM'-h 


'i 


! 


160 


/ 


\» 


THE  refugee;  OB  A 


.V. 


to  register  my  name,  but  was  informed  that  the  hotel 
was  "  full."  At  another  time,  I  visited  a  town  on  busi- 
ness, and  entered  my  name  on  the  register,  as  did  the 
other  passengers  who  stopped  there.  Afterward  I  saw 
that  my  name  had  been  scratched  off.  I  went  to 
another  hotel  and  was  politely  received  by  the  landlady : 
but  in  the  public  room  —  the  bar  —  were  two  or  three 
persons,  who  as  I  sui  there,  talked  a  great  deal  about 
"niggers,"  —  aiming  at  me.  But  I  paid  no  attention 
to  it,  knowing  that  when  "  whiskey  is  in,  wit  is  out." 


I, 


MRS.  FRANCIS  HENDERSON. 


I  was  born  of  a  slaves  mother  in  Washington,  D.  C, 
and  was  raised  in  that  city.  I  was  to  be  set  free  at 
the  age  of  thirty.  When  my  old  mistress  died,  I  was 
sold  for  the  balance  of  the  time  to  an  Irish  woman. 
When  I  first  went  there,  I  was  the  only  slave  they  had 
ever  owned ;  they  owned  afterwards  a  man,  a  woman, 
and  a  male  child.  The  man  went  out  to  get  some  one 
to  buy  him.  He  left  word  at  the  grocery :  the  grocer 
was  not  particular  to  report  the  one  who  would  pur- 
chase him  to  the  old  man  by  himself,  but  let  on  before 
the  folks.  This  provoked  the  Irishman  and  his  wife, 
and  as  the  old  man  was  taking  out  ashes  from  an 
ash-hole,  the  master  went  down,  and  as  the  slave  raised 
his  head,  the  man  struck  him  about  the  temple,  with  a 
long  handled  scrubbing-brush.  The  old  man  never 
spoke  afterwards.  J  saw  the  blow  struck.  The  old 
man  died  the  next  morning.  An  inquest  was  held.  I 
was  afraid,  and  told  the  jurymen  I  knew  nothing  about 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OP   SLAVERY. 


161 


\     • 


it.  The  white  girl  said  the  boss  wasn't  at  home,— 
she  swore  a  false  oath,  and  tried  to  make  it  out  that 
the  old  man  fell  and  hit  his  head  against  the  bake  oven 
door.  The  man  was  bound  over,  not  to  put  his  hand 
on  a  servant  any  more.  Mistress  u«ed  to  pinch  pieces 
out  of  the  boys'  ears,  and  then  heal  them  with  burnt 
alum.  She  dared  not  do  much  to  me,  as  my  former 
owners  were  in  the  city,  and  would  not  suffer  barbarity. 
Her  husband  was  under  bonds  of  two  thousand  dollars 
to  treat  me  well.  But  she  treated  the  others  so  badly 
that  some  of  my  friends  told  me  I  had  better  leave, 

was  there   then   with   some   persona  who 

were  going  to  travel  north  with  him,  and  I  joined  them 
and  came  away. 

I  like  liberty,  and  if  Washington  were  a  free  coun- 
try, I  would  like  to  go  back  there,  —  my  parents  were 
there.  There  are  so  many  congressmen  there  that  the 
slaves  are  not  treated  so  badly  as  in  other  parts. 


JOHN  HOLMES. 

My  name  in  slavery  was  John  Clopton.  I  belonged 
originally  in  Hanover  Co.,  Va.  My  treatment  was  so 
bad,  I  hate  to  say  any  thing  about  it.  Slaves  were  not 
allowed  to  open  a  book  where  I  came  from :  they  were 
allowed  to  go  to  meeting,  if  the  master  gave  them  a 
pass  —  some  have  that  privilege,  and  some  do  not.  My 
owners  never  gave  me  a  hat  in  the  world,  nor  hardly 
any  clothes.  When  I  got  big  enough,  I  worked  nights 
to  get  me  a  hat  and  some  clothes.  There  was  one 
physician  there,  who  I  know  as  well  as  I  know  myself, 

14* 


\^ 


162 


THE  refugee:  or  a 


ii 


ik 


w^ 


II P'- 


who  flogged  one  woman  till  the  skin  was  off  her  back, 
and  then  whipped  the  skin  off  her  feet.  One  neighbor 
of  ours  was  worse  than  the  evil  one  wanted  him  to  be. 
He  used  to  make  a  mamed  man  get  cut  of  his  bed  in 
the  morning  and  he  would  go  and  get  into  it.  What  T 
have  seen,  I  seldom  say  any  thing  about,  because  peo- 
ple would  not  believe  it,  —  they  would  not  believe  peo- 
ple could  be  so  hard-hearted.  They  whipped  so  much, 
I  couldn't  tell  any  particular  reason  for  it.      '  >» 

The  horn  would  sound  at  the  time  the  c.  3ks  crowed. 
Then  they  all  got  up.  When  it  blowed  the  second 
time  all  had  to  start  for  the  field :  if  any  remained  after 
this,  the  overseer  would  go  in  and  whip  them.  Day- 
light never  caught  us  in  the  house.  Then  the  overseer\\ 
.would  get  on  his  horse  and  ride  to  the  field ;  and  if  any 
one  came  in  after  him,  he  would  apply  the  lash  —  per- 
haps fifty,  perhaps  a  hundred.  I  have  seen  the  women 
jump  for  the  field  with  their  shoes  and  stockings  in 
their  hands,  and  a  petticoat  wrapped  over  their  shoul- 
ders, to  dress  in  the  field  the  best  way  they  could.    The 

head   magistrate   of    that   county  (L J )   was 

about  the  hardest  of  any  of  'em.  When  I  came  away, 
one  of  his  men  had  maggots  in  his  back.     His  brother 

E was  not  so  hard, — he  wf  r  killed  in  a  duel.  Another 

brother  was  very  hard  toward  his  wife,  his  slaves,  and 

everybody  else.     His   name    was  B J .      He 

was  so  bad  he  couldn't  live  any  longer  —  he  killed  him- 
self by  drinking  a  quart  of  brandy  from  a  case-bottie  — 
a  case-bottle  full.  Next  morning  he  was  dead.  This* 
was  before  I  came  away,  and  I  left  in  1825.  I  do  n't 
know  my  age.  They  don't  tell  the  slaves  any  thing 
about  their  age.  There  were  but  two  that  I  known  of, 
who  used  their  people  any  way  decent. 

There  was  a  young  T P who  had  overseers 


■*.■ 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


163 


who  would  kill  his  people  with  no  more  conscience  than 

one  would  kill  a  snake.     T P was  so  bad  he 

wouldn't  give  his  people  Sunday.  He  had  two  or 
three  farms.  On  a  Saturday  night  his  people  would 
pack  up,  and  travel  Sunday  to  another  farm,  so  as  to 
be  ready  for  work  Monday  morning.  He  had  one  over- 
seer named  L ,  who  called  himself  a  bull-dog,  and 

said  he  could  manage  any  "  nigger."  They  allow  eight 
ears  of  corn  for  a  horse  at  noon.     A  young  man  was 

about  feeding  a  horse ;   L says,  "  How  many  ears 

have  you    got  ?  "     "I    did  n't    count    them."     L 

counted,  —  there  were   ten   ears.     Just  for  that  L 

seized  a  flail,  and  struck  the  young  man  breaking  two 
of  his  ribs  —  he  hit  him  with  the  flail  until  he  found 
the  young  man  was  dying  —  then  he  sent  for  the  doctor. 
The  doctor  said,  "What  did  you  kill  this  man,  and  then 
send  for  me  for  ?  "  I  knew  the  young  man  and  knew 
the  overseer. 

The  first  time  I  was  shot,  my  young  master.  Dr. 

(who  had  married  one  of  the  girls)  and  I  got  into  a 
skirmish.  I  was  in  the  kitchen  before  anybody  was 
up.  He  came  in  and  wanted  to  know  what  I  was 
doing  in  the  house?  Why  I  didn't  go  to  work?  He 
says,  "  If  you  do  n't  go  out  and  go  to  work,  I'll  give 
you  a  hundred  lashes.  Go,  get  your  hoe,  and  come  up 
to  the  house  —  I'll  show  you  where  you  can  hill  up  a 
potato  patch."  I  went,  got  my  hoe  and  came  back. 
Then  he  had  been  to  the  stable,  and  got  leading  lines, 
a  whip,  and  his  gun.  He  knew  I  would  not  let  him 
whip  me,  because  I  had  always  fought  like  a  tiger  when 
they  undertook  it.  The  gun  was  to  scare  me,  so  as  to 
make  me  take  off"  my  jacket.  He  left  the  whip  and 
gun  inside  the  door  and  said,  "  come  in  here."  I  had 
not  seen  then  the  lines,  whip,  or  gun.     He  took  up  the 


"ajb*i 


m 

,;■;■. It,  iliac 


iiHmiLiitw 


[HI"  ■  '"^ 


m 


^m 

iin^i 

'iHint 

ii  SMBl  I'RfllrMi 

I'Pil' "  ■' 

t*  9w^B8 

i'lSflfw  ^"tf '' 

mM 

iUlL 

/ 


164 


rv 


THE  refugee; 


lines,  and  came  by  me  as  if  he  was  going  out  —  when 
he  got  r.ear  the  whip  and  gun  he  turned  —  "take  off 
your  shirt,  I'll  hit  you  a  hundred  lashes  this  morning." 
It  was  because  I  had  not  gone  to  work  —  that  was  all 
the  quarrel  we  had  had  that  morning.     I  turned  round 
and  faced  him.     "  Pull  off  your  shirt,  you  d — d  rascal." 
I  said,  "  not  to-day."    The  minute  I  said  so,  he  snatched 
up  his  gun,  pointed  it  at  my  breast  and  said,  "  I'll  shoot 
you."     I  went  towards  him,  opened  my  breast,   and 
said,  "  shoot  away."     My  temper  was  raised  —  I  meant 
if  he  did  not  Idll  me,  that  I  would  kill  him.     It  seemed 
to  daunt  him.     He  said,  "  Stand  your  ground."     I  was 
approaching   him.     Said  I,   "I've   got   no  ground  to 
stand  on."     I  was  very  near  him,  —  he  seized  the  whip,U 
and  struck  at  me,  but  I  was  near  enough  to  prevent 
him  from  hitting.     As  he  made  a  lick  at  me,  I  sprung 
for  the  door.    He  thought  I  was  going  to  seize  him,  and 
dodged  out  of  the  way.     I  went  out,  took  my  hoe,  and 
was  walking  away.     I  had  got  mad,  and  could  n't  run. 
He  called,  "  Stop,  you  d — d  rascal."   I  told  him  I  would 
go  away,  and  not  come  back  while  wind  blew  or  water 
run.     I  had  not  got  far,  and  looked  around,  when  I  saw 
him  have  the  gun ;  I  saw  the  flash,  and  was  peppered 
all  over  with  shot.     I  went  off  into  the  woods.     The 
shot  did  not  bother  me  much,  except  one  in  the  ball  of 
my  thumb,  which   I  got  out  some  four  or  five  years 
after.     I  stayed  in  the  woods  all  summer.     They  used 
to  hunt  for  me.     I've  seen  them  after  me  with  dogs  — 
dogs  could  n't  catch  me.     I  used  to  watch  when  they  i 
started  and  follow  behind  them.     I  used  something  on 
my  feet  to  keep  dogs  from  taking  a  scent.    At  last  they 
told   all  the  neighbors  if   I  would   come  home,  they 
wouldn't  whip  me.     I  was  a  great  hand  to  work  and 
made  a  great  deal  of  money  for  our  folks.     I  used  to 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OF   SLAVERY. 


165 


tell  them,  if  they  whipped  me,  I  wouldn't  work.  The 
only  fault  they  could  find  with  me  was,  I  would  not  be 
whipped.  The  young  master  —  this  one  I  ran  from  — 
used  to  say,  "  a  man  must  be  whipped,  else  he  wouldn't 
knov/  he  was  a  nigger.^''     I  finally  went  back. 

I  had  a  great  many  such  scrapes  with  the  overseers  — 
two  or  three  with  the  masters.  At  last  they  said,  "  bet- 
ter let  him  alone,  he  is  a  good  hand  to  work."  I  would 
not  be  whipped.  One  day  an  overseer,  who  thought  he 
Was  a  better  man  than  any  of  the  others,  came  to  me  — 
I  was  a  leader,  and  was  pulling  corn.  He  took  me  by 
the  collar,  and  said  I  did  not  go  fast  enough  —  he  would 
"  tie  me  up  to  the  persimmon  tree,  and  hit  me  a  hun- 
dred lashes ; "  he  meant  to  do  it,  because  the  others  had 
not  made  out  to.  I  told  him,  "not  to-day"  —  that's 
what  1  always  used  to  tell  them.  He  called  two  dogs, 
and  ihey  bit  me  in  a  great  many  places,  —  the  marks  of 
their  ieeth  are  all  about  my  knees?,  —  then  he  called  sev- 
eral of  the  hands,  but  only  one  came  up  before  I  got 
away  from  overseer,  dogs  and  all.    I  had  to  fling  off  the 

overseer,  E E ;  he  went  to  the  ground.    I  took 

to  the  woods :  I  don 't  know  how  long  I  stayed  out  that 
time,  but  I  have  stayed  in  the  woods  aP  winter. 

My  young  master  had  a  bloodhound,  very  large  and 
snvage.  He  would  let  no  one  come  near  him.  At 
night  this  dog  was  turned  loose,  and  no  negro  could 
come  round  the  house,  nor  along  the  road.  He  would 
not  touch  white  people,  —  he  was  brought  up  so.  At 
one  time  they  were  repairing  a  chimney,  —  several  loose 
bricks  were  about  the  yard.  One  of  the  women  and 
myself  were  sent  through  the  yard.  The  dog  was 
chained,  end  was  enraged,  because  ho  could  not  get  at 
us:  the  master  was  standing  in  the  yard.  The  dog 
broke  his  collar :  I  saw  him  coming,  and  took  up  a  half 


I*. 


\^ 


»*{ 


16^ 


.-^ 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


brick.  I  knew  the  dog  would  spring  for  my  throat,  and 
I  took  a  position  as  for  wrestling.  When  the  dog 
sprung,  I  threw  up  my  left  arm :  the  dog  just  got  hold, 
and  I  struck  him  on  the  side  of  his  head  with  the  bricly 
—  he  fell  stunned,  but  I  did  not  kill  him.  Young  mas- 
ter was  laughing  when  he  saw  the  dog  springing  about, 
and  when  he  saw  him  coming ;  but  when  he  saw  the 
dog  fall,  he  ran  out  and  struck  at  me  with  his  fist.  I 
fended  off,  as  I  had  pretty  good  use  of  my  limbc  then. 
He  then  tried  to  kick  me,  but  I  caught  his  foot  every 
time.  I  told  him,  "  You  sha'n't  strike  me,  and  your  dog 
sha'n't  bite  me,  ne'er  a  one."  He  then  ran  for  his  gun,  so 
ambitious,  that  his  mother  went  to  look,  to  see  what  he 
was  going  to  shoot  at.  She  got  to  the  door  as  quick  asi 
he  did :  the  gun  was  then  pointed  at  me,  but  she  seized 
it  and  pulled  it  out  of  his  hands,  and  told  me  to  be 
off  quick.  He  was  not  of  age  when  I  came  away.  I 
never  saw  such  a  set  of  fellows  as  our  folks  were :  one 
of  them  shot  a  dog,  because  he  would  n't  come  when  he 
called  him.  This  one  was  accidentally  killed  one  Sun- 
day morning,  by  a  gun  in  the  hands  of  the  overseer. 
They  were  playing,  and  the  gun  went  off  at  half  cock, 
and  blew  his  brains  out. 

A A was  a  great  overseer,  who  never  went 

on  any  plantation  but  what  he  whipped  every  man  on 
it.  He  bragged  of  it,  and  was  called  a  great  negro- 
manager.  There  were  two  men  and  one  woman,  named 
Betty,  on  the  place,  who,  like  me,  would  not  be  whipped. 
They  employed  him  to  come  on  for  overseer,  because 
he  could  make  a  great  crop  any  how,  by  managing  the 
hands.  When  the  new  overseer  comes,  all  hands  are 
called  up  and  given  over  to  him.  I  would  not  go  ap  at 
such  times  —  once  only  I  went  into  the  yard. 

A ordered  all  to  meet  him  at  the  barn  next  morn- 


s 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


t:67. 


ing,  to  get  orders  where  to  go.  Every  thing  went  on 
well  till  the  middle  of  February,  when  we  make  plant- 
patches  to  put  tobacco  in.  We  would  go  to  a  wood 
and  get  brush,  and  burn  it  on  the  soil  till  bloodvvarm, 
then  plant  it.  All  the  women  were  raking  dry  leaves 
to  put  on  the  brush,  to  make  it  burn.  The  overseer 
first  fell  in  with  Betty  —  his  word  was,  if  any  one  did 
not  work  fast  enough  —  "  go  to  work !  go  to  work ! " 
He  said  this  to  Betty.  Said  she,  "  Where  must  I  go  ?  " 
"  Go  to  work !  "  "I  am  working."  He  struck  her  with 
a  stick  he  had  in  his  hand  —  she  struck  him  with  the 
rake.  They  struck  several  blows.  She  got  the  stick 
and  lost  the  rake :  they  fought  then  like  two  dogs.  She 
was  better  with  her  fists,  and  beat  him ;  but  he  was 
better  at  wrestling,  and  threw  her  down.  He  then 
called  the  men  to  help  him,  but  all  hid  from  him  in  the 
brush  where  we  were  working.  We  could  see  him,  but 
he  could  not  see  us,  —  he  was  too  busily  engaged. 
They  fought  till  they  got  out  of  breath,  and  then  he 
started  with  her  to  go  to  the  mistress ;  they  never  broke 
their  hold.     He  got  her  over  two  or  three  fences ;  then 

came  the  doctor  who  had  shot  me,  and  J T , 

my  mistress's  son,  and  they  took  her  to  the  barn,  and 
whipped  her  almost  to  death :  but  she  behaved  worse 
afterwards. 

Then  the  calculation  was  to  whip  us  every  one,  be- 
cause we  did  not  help  the  overseer.  He  told  us,  the 
same  afternoon  to  go  to  the  barn  to  thresh  oats  :  but 
the  oldest  son,  who  had  the  management  of  the  whole 
estate,  was  not  at  home,  which  saved  us  that  time  ;  but 
it  was  to  be  done  next  day.  While  they  were  plotting 
it  in  the  evening,  one  of  the  house  girls  overheard  it. 
That  night  every  one  of  us  went  away  into  the  woods. 
(Among  those  woods  I  have  seen,  where  there  are  large 


ti 


:i',!: 


.(T-W?^ 


168 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


trees,  the  old  corn  hills  and  tobacco  hills,  where  it  used 
to  be  planted.  At  one  time,  I  was  hoeing  in  a  field 
which  we  had  just  cleared  of  big  pine-trees,  and  I  found 
there  two  iron  wedges  and  a  hoe  in  the  ground.)  We 
stayed  until  they  could  not  pitch  a  crop  of  corn.  The 
head  plougher  and  all,  —  all  of  'em  went  away :  they 
had  only  women  and  old  men,  and  one  young  man  who 
stayed  behind,  who  was  foolish.  The  overseer  came 
to  make  a  greater  crop  than  they  ever  had,  and  he  did 
not  make  any.  They  sent  off  the  overseer  to  get  us 
hoiAP.  We  went  back,  but  after  a  while  he  came  back 
too,  and  stayed  the  year  out.  He  whipped  the  women, 
but  ho  did  not  whip  the  men,  for  fear  they  would  run 
iway.  He  has  cut  many  hickories  and  got  chains  made 
J  put  on  me  :  but  I  was  always  looking  out  for  him. 

V  _n  I  was  young,  before  I  got  so  watchful^  I  had 
blows  and  knocks.  One  morning  I  was  sick  :  the  rule 
was,  to  tell  the  overseer.  I  said  I  was  n't  going  all  over 
the  farm  to  look  him  up.  First  thing  I  knew,  he  was 
in,  with  some  switches,  cowhide,  and  a  rope  with  a 
running  noose.  He  put  the  noose  over  my  head  as  I 
sat,  —  I  cleared  it,  and  he  struck  me  with  a  knife  which 
hit  a  button :  I  knocked  the  knife  out  of  his  hand,  —  we 
had  a  fight  and  I  whipped  him.  I  knew  if  I  stayed,  he 
would  whip  me.  I  ran  for  a  swamp,  and  he  after  me ; 
but  I  got  there  first,  and  went  through  the  mud  and 
water,  —  he  stopped  at  that.  I  always  started  in  time, 
—  before  the  lash  came,  I  was  off. 

One  overseer  we  had  was  named  E T ;  a  i 

stout,  big,  young  man,  who  worked  the  people  hard, 
night  and  day ;  all  the  time  at  uur  heels,  "  rush  !  make 
haste  i  "  The  weaker  ones  were  called  the  "  drop-short 
gang ; "  these  were  taking  the  lash  all  the  time :  he 
was  always  after  them.     He  wanted  I  should  blow  the 


"'  ,fi  ■■■' 


Vi.: 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


169 


horn,  but  I  would  n't  undertake  it.  The  old  head  man 
used  to  blow  it.  He  used  to  hide  the  horn  someiinies, 
so  that  we  need  not  get  it  to  throw  it  away.  One  time 
I  found  it,  and  threw  it  in  the  river.  The  overseer 
wanted  to  know  why  the  horn  did  not  blow.  The  old 
man  told  him  "  somebody  done  hide  it."  The  overseer 
threatened  us  with  a  hundred  lashes,  unless  we  would 
find  it,  but  we  told  him  we  had  nothing  to  do  with  it. 

T got  another  horn  :  I  do  n't  believe  he  blew  it 

three  times  before  it  was  in  the  river.  One  of  the  wo- 
men saw  where  the  old  man  hid  it,  and  when  he  went 
for  it,  it  was  gone,  —  it  was  in  the  river.  We  got  up 
afterward  without  a  horn.  Several  times,  horns  were 
got  for  the  farm,  but  they  could  not  keep  them. 

This  overseer  was  very  mistrustful  and  watchful,  but 
he  would  get  come  up  with  sometimes.  At  threshing 
time,  he  accused  me  of  stealing  the  wheat.  At  one 
time,  he  came  down  there,  when  he  was  sick  to  watch 
us.  He  had  been  taking  medicine :  he  laid  down  on 
some  straw,  —  it  was  damp,  and  he  got  worse.  He 
called  to  me  to  take  him  up.  I  told  him,  "  All  I  '11  do 
for  you  will  be,  if  you  die,  I  '11  close  your  eyes,  and  lay 
you  out."  Two  others,  a  man  and  a  woman  went  to 
him.  Said  I,  "  if  you  take  him  up,  he  '11  get  well,  and 
you  '11  be  the  first  ones  he  '11  whip."  They  took  him  to 
the  house  :  he  was  very  sick  there,  crying,  "  let  me  pray! 
let  me  pray ! "  I  could  hear  him  at  the  barn.  When 
he  got  out  to  the  field  again,  I  did  not  know  he  was 
there,  till  I  heard  the  switch.  I  looked  to  see  whom  he 
was  whipping.  It  was  the  very  two  who  had  carried 
him  to  the  house.  I  said  to  them,  "  do  n't  you  remem- 
ber what  I  told  you  ?  If  you  had  let  him  stay  there 
and  die,  you  would  n't  have  got  that."  It  struck  him 
so,  he  flung  his  switches  down,  and  sat  on  the  fence : 

15 


t  h 


\\ 


170 


THE  refugee:  or  a 


he  looked  pale  :  he  went  back  to  the  house,  and  we  did 
not  see  him  again  for  three  days. 

One  morning  I  had  a  great  scrape  with  him.  He 
swore  he  would  whip  me  at  the  risk  of  his  life.  That 
morning  I  did  not  get  into  the  field  until  sunrise.  All 
were  at  work  but  me  :  I  had  had  something  to  attend 
to,  and  would  not  go.  He  said  I  should  not  strike  a 
lick  there,  till  he  had  whipped  me.  I  told  him,  "  you 
shall  not,  if  everybody  has  to  die  between  here  and 
Kentucky.  I'll  die  before  I'll  take  a  whipping."  "You 
sha'n't  do  a  stroke  of  work,  before  I  whip  you."  The 
next  word  was,  "  master  sha'n't  whip  me,  mistress 
sha'n't  whip  me,  you  sha'n't  whip  me,  nobody  sha'n't 
whip  me."  He  said,  "  I  '11  make  all  the  hands  catcU 
you,  and  I  'il  whip  you."  "  There  ain't  a  man  the  sun 
shines  upon,  that  shall  whip  me."  The  next  thing  he 
said  was,  "  You  ought  to  consider  your  mistress'  inter- 
ests." I  told  him,  "  let  mistress  consider  her  own  inter- 
ests, and  let  me  consider  mine, — let  everybody  consider 
their  own  interest."  I  was  fixing  then  to  come  away, 
but  he  did  not  know  it.  "  I  w^ill  whip  you  any  how. 
If  you  '11  take  off  your  shirt,  I  '11  only  give  you  a  few 
licks,  —  I  have  sworn  that  I  would  whip  you,  and  want 
to  make  my  words  good."  I  answered,  "  I  have  saidj 
you  should  not  whip  me,  and  that 's  as  good  as  if  I  had 
sworn  to  it."  We  were  some  five  or  ten  yards  apart. 
He  said  I  should  not  work  till  I  was  whipped.  I  told 
him  I  was  not  doing  myself  any  good,  —  that  I  was  n't 
working  for  myself  anyhow,  and  didn't  care  whether 
I  worked  or  not.  I  then  turned  for  the  woods,  —  when 
almost  there  he  called  me  back,  —  not  one  of  the  hands 
would  have  dared  to  touch  me.  I  always  carried  an 
open  knife,  —  they  never  i  o  ild  catch  me  unprepared. 
I  went  back :  said  he,  "  I  'll  excuse  you  this  time,  but 


nohth-side  view  of  slavery. 


171 


you  must  n't  do  so  any  more."     I  answered,  "  I  do  n't 
know  what  I  am  going  to  do." 

Tlie  last  year,  we  had  to  work  backwards  and  for- 
wards, from  one  farrr  'o  another  —  from  my  mistress' 
farm  to  her  son's:  two  overseers,  —  we  v/orked  so  till 
harvest  time,  when  I  came  away.  My  master  was 
mad  with  me  all  the  time  about  the  overseers.  I  was 
the  leader  on  our  farm  —  on  the  other  farm,  I  followed 
their  leader.  There  were  fifteen  cutting  wheat  in  cra- 
dles, some  were  raking,  some  binding  —  master  followed 
the  cradles.  The  other  leader  and  I  cradled  so  fast,  we 
kept  ahead  of  the  rest  —  so  we  would  have  time  to 
stop  a  little.  He  was  mad  because  he  could  not  see 
us  cut  wheat —  he  said  we  did  nothing,  and  were  play- 
ing all  the  harvest.  One  forenoon  a  shower  came  up  — 
all  were  busy  to  get  the  wheat  out  of  the  shower ;  mas- 
ter, to  get  occasion  to  whip  me,  came  to  me  and  said, 
"  You  shall  run  too."  I  did  run ;  but  that  did  not  suit 
him :  !ie  came  up  and  struck  me  three  or  four  times. 
He  then  went  and  cut  three  or  four  long  poles  :  he  shook 
them  at  me,  and  said  he  would  whip  me  a  hundred 
lashes  for  the  new  and  the  old.  All  hands  were  now 
sent  to  the  barn  to  shell  corn, —  that  wr  where  they  were 
going  to  catch  me.  I  took  up  my  cradle  and  jacket;  1 
spoke  to  Tom,  and  asked  him  if  he  knew  he  was  to  have 
one  hundred  lashes  ?  He  said,  "  Yes."  "  Are  you  going 
to  the  barn  ?  "  "  Yes,  —  are  you  going  ?  "  "  No : 
going  to  the  woods."  "  But  you  caimot  stay  in  the 
woods  always."  Said  I,  "  If  you  will  go  with  me,  1  '11 
carry  you  into  a  free  country."  "  Oh,  you  can't."  I 
said,  "I'll  go,  or  die, in  the  attempt  a  trying."  Tom 
said,  "  I  reckon  you  have  n't  sense  enougli  to  get  away." 
I  told  him,  "  I  '11  walk  as  long  as  there 's  land,  and  if  I 
come  to  the  sea,  I  '11  swim  till  I  get  drowned,"     I  bade 


172 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


I'lfeilii 


all  the  hands  good-by  —  "I  never  expect  you  '11  sea  me 
again :  if  they  try  to  take  me  I  '11  fight  till  I  die :  but  if 
it  so  hpppens  that  they  nm.ster  me,  I'll  never  tell  them 
where  I  came  fror.."  Then  I  went  into  the  woods,  f 
had  some  good  clothes,  nd  went  round  through  the 
woods  and  got  them.  I  waited  till  night,  to  see  what 
they  would  do.  I  saw  them  going  to  the  house  where 
I  had  been  for  my  clothes.  I  could  hear  them  talking, 
telling  the  owner  of  the  place,  a  poor  white  man,  to 
catch  me  if  I  came  there.  I  laid  about  the  woods  ten 
days,  waiting  for  another  man  who  had  promised  to 
come  with  me.  I  saw  him,  but  he  was  afraid  to  come. 
I  started  without  him.  At  sixty  miles  from  home,  I 
got  work,  and  stayed  until  I  got  some  clothes  and  a 
little  money.  Then  I  left  for  the  North.  I  have  two 
children  in  slavery.  They  were  carried  away  from  me 
when  they  were  a  few  months  old. 

I  have  lived  in  Canada  twenty-four  ye?  rs,  and  have 
made  out  pretty  fair  since  I  have  been  here.  I  came 
here  expecting  to  work,  but  have  not  had  to  work  so 
hard  here  as  1  did  nt  tik;  South.  I  know  all  the  old  set- 
tlers, but  a  great  many  have  come  lately,  whom  I  am 
not  acquainted  with.  Those  that  will  work,  do  well  — 
those  that  will  not —  not:  it  is  the  same  here  as  every- 
where. It  is  the  best  poor  man's  country  that  I  know 
of — if  a  man  comes  wilhout  a  shilling,  he  can  get 
along  well.  There  is  no  more  idleness  among  colored 
than  other  people  —  there  are  idlers  among  aU  nations. 
I  came  here  with  money  enough  to  buy  a  hundred  " 
acres  of  land.  My  money  was  stolen,  but  I  did  not 
get  discouraged.  I  now  own  this  house  and  land  — 
ten  acres  here,  and  twelve  in  another  place.  I  had  a 
house  and  land  which  the  railroad  took,  and  I  got  a 
good  price. 


yORTn-STDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


173 


If  I  had  had  any  knowledge  how  to  calculate  and 
scheme,  as  I  should  if  I  had  learning,  I  should  be  worth 
ten  thousand  dollars.  London  has  grown  up  since  I 
came  here.  I  had  an  opportunity  to  buy  land  in  the 
heart  of  the  city,  but  did  not  bother  about  it.  Many  of 
our  people  remain  poor  for  want  of  education.  It  can- 
not be  expected  that  men  who  hav(^  just  got  away  from 


CO 


only  looking 

people   are 

we  have  been 

lis   country. 

..orce.    There 


slavery  should  look  far  ahead  :    he 

for  to-day   and   to-morrow.     The 

mostly  given  to  hard  work :  for  th 

here,  we   have   made  great  progrcc  ,- 

They  have  many  good  farms  about  Wi. 

is  some  prejudice,  but  not  so  much  as  there  used  to  be. 

There  is  no  separate  school  here.     There  are  a  Baptist 

and  a  Methodist  church  exclusively  for  colored  people. 

Whether  this  is  best,  I  cannot  say.     I  used  to  persuade 

the  colored  people  to  go  into  the  white  folks'  churches. 

They  came  near  making  me  say  I  would  never  go  to 

church  any  more :  on  coming  out,  the  colored  people 

were  insulted :  things  were  said  then  that  would  not  be 

said  now.     Colored  people  attend  at  every  church  in 

London. 


MRS. 


BROWN. 


I  keep  a  boarding-house,  and  have  now  ten  boarders, 
all  fugitives,  as  nearly  as  I  can  recollect.  One  of  them 
came  last  winter.     They  have  all  got  employment. 

15* 


^ 


111' 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


■^  Ui2    12.2 

L°    12.0 


IL25  inu 


i 

11.6 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


^>^ 


23  WIST  MAIN  STRKT 

WHSTER.N.Y.  14SS0 

(716)172-4503 


6^ 


\l 


THB  bbfugee;  or  a 


.    V 


JOHN  D.  MOORE. 

I  lived  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  some  twenty 
years.  I  suffered  a  great  deal  there  solely  on  account 
of  my  color.  Many  a  time,  when  I  have  been  travel- 
ling, and  would  come  to  a  tavern  tired  and  hungry,  I 
would  be  told,  "  We  have  no  accommodations  for  men 
of  your  color,"  and  I  would  have  to  go  on.  Perhaps  I 
might  get  a  luncheon  at  a  private  house,  —  or  at  some 
place  kept  by  a  foreigner,  who  needed  the  colored  man's 
money. 

I  have  suffered  a  great  many  other  ways  on  account 
of  my  color.  Several  times  I  wanted  to  go  into  busi- 
ness there,  but  was  dissuaded  by  my  white  friends,  who 
said  I  would  be  mobbed  or  burned  out.  I  was  discour- 
aged in  so  many  ways,  that  I  came  to  Canada,  to  see 
if  I  could  find  a  place  where  a  *iolored  man  could  have 
some  privilege.  I  find  it  the  reverse  here  from  what  it 
was  in  the  States.  There  is  prejudice  here  among  the 
low  class  of  people,  but  they  have  not  got  the  power  to 
carry  it  out  here  that  they  have  in  the  States.  The  law 
here  is  stronger  than  the  mob  —  it  is  not  §o  there.  If  a 
man  insults  me  here,  he  is  glad  to  get  out  of  the  way 
for  fear  of  the  law ;  it  was  not  so  in  the  States  where  I 
lived.  A  ruffian  there  may  insult  or  throw  stones  at  a 
colored  man,  and  he  must  get  out  of  the  way  —  I  found 
no  law  on  my  side. 

I  can't  complain  —  I  am  doing  well  here,  and  am 
satisfied  with  Canada.  I  have  lived  here  eighteen 
months. 


KOBTH-Sn>E  VIEW  OV  SLAVBRT. 


CHRISTOPHER  HAMILTON. 

I  was  raised  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.  I  went  to  school  a 
little,  to  a  Sunday  School,  and  learned  to  read,  but  was 
stopped  —  I  suppose  because  I  was  learning  too  fast. 
My  people  came  from  Virginia.  They  were  all  free  by 
right.  My  grandmother  was  an  Indian  woman.  She 
put  my  mother  with  a  man  by  the  name  of  E— 
G— ,  to  bring  up.  He  moved  to  Kentucky,  stopped 
a  little  while,  then  went  to  Missouri,  thence  to  Jackson, 
Miss.  While  they  were  moving  out,  on  their  way  to 
Kentucky,  I  was  born  on  board  a  boat  in  Pittsburg. 
After  we  reached  Jackson,  my  father,  my  mother,  and 
all  their  sons  and  daughters,  except  myself  and  a  sister 
who  had  two  children,  were  sent  to  Mine  Oburden  — 

lead  mines  —  they  moved  there  with  Dr.  G ,  who 

kept  them  all  for  slaves.     After  he  had  stopped  there 

awhile,  he  sold  them  to  a  man  named  S P    i    , 

My  sister,  her  two  children,  and  myself,  were  sold  by 

W G ,  to  whom  the  Dr.  had  given  us  up  for 

debt,  to  a  man  in  St.  Louis.     W G was  in 


debt  to  a  man  named  H- 
to  a  Frenchman  named  B- 


-,  and  H was  in  debt 


one  to  another  to  pay  debts. 


We  slipped  along  from 

With  B I  remained 

from  ten  years  old,  till  I  left  for  the  North.     I  have 

written  kind  letters  to  B ,  but  got  no  reply.     The 

people  who  v/ere  sold  to  S—  P all  were  finally 

removed  with  him  to  St.  Louis,  except  one  who  died  in  * 
the  South. 

I  look  on  slavery  as  the  greatest  evil  that  ever  existed 
The  preaching  I  used  to  hear  was,  "  Servants,  be  obe- 
dient to  your  masters."  "  He  that  knoweth  his  master's 
will,  and  doeth  it  not,  shall  be  beaten  with  many 


\'\ 


m 


THB  refuobb;  or  a 


\^ 


stripes.'*  I  was  well  used  by  my  master,  and  well 
treated)  until  he  married  a  second  time.  He  married  a 
very  mean  woman.  He  was  a  very  wealthy  man,  and 
when  she  married  him,  it  raised  her  right  up.  Nothing 
could  please  her.  I  had  been  married  two  years,  and 
she  tried  to  persuade  her  husband  to  seU  my  wife  down 
the  river :  she  wanted  to  whip  my  wife,  and  my' wife 
wouldn't  let  her.  I  did  not  wait  to  see  whether  he 
would  sell  her  or  not:  but  we  came  away,— ^ got  off 
very  comfortably.  I  had  only  sixteen  dollars  when  I 
started.  When  I  got  here,  I  found  a  brother  of  mine 
here,  —  he  helped  me  about  getting  work,  and  I  make 
out  to  live  comfortably.  I  would  n't  go  back  for  all  St. 
Louis,  poor  as  I  am.  U 

They  have  no  good  feeling  there  for  colored  people 
anyhow.  All  they  care  for  is,  to  get  all  the  work  out 
of  them  they  can.  They  whip  them  to  death,  starve 
them  to  death,  and  I  saw  one  colored  man  burned  to 
death, —  Mcintosh,  who  had  killed  a  man. 

I  used  to  go  to  Sunday  School  in  St.  Louis,  to  Mr. 
Lovejoy — the  man  who  was  ki.'led.      , 

The  colored  people  in  Lond'^  -^re  generally  saving; 
they  do  not  waste  their  mean&  ^ey  are  getting  along 
as  well  as  they  can  expect,  as  a  general  thing.  I  do  not 
know  of  one  who  suffered  so  much  here,  as  he  would  in 
slavery.  There  are  some  who  are  vicious  and  dissolute, 
and  so  there  are  of  all  nations.  Take  them  in  general, 
and  they  are  getting  along  first-rate. 


NORTH-SIDB  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


177 


\\ 


MRS.  CHRISTOPHER  HAMHiTON.  . 

I  left  Mississippi  about  fourteen  years  ago.  I  was 
raised  a  house  servant,  and  was  well  used, — but  I  saw 
and  heard  a  great  deal  of  the  cruelty  of  slavery.  I  saw 
more  than  I  wanted  to  —  I  never  want  to  see  so  much 
again.  The  slaveholders  say  their  slaves  are  better  off 
than  if  they  were  free,  and  that  they  prefer  slavery  to 
freedom.  I  do  not,  and  never  saw  one  that  wished  to 
go  back.  It  would  be  a  hard  trial  to  make  me  a  slave 
again.  I  had  rather  live  in  Canada,  on  one  potato  a 
day,  than  to  live  in  the  South  with  all  the  wealth  they 
have  got.  I  am  now  my  own  mistress,  and  need  not 
work  when  I  am  sick.  I  can  do  my  own  thinkings, 
without  having  any  one  to  think  for  me,  —  to  tell  me 
when  to  come,  what  to  do,  and  to  sell  me  when  they 
get  ready.  I  wish  I  could  have  my  relatives  here.  I 
might  say  a  great  deal  more  against  slavery  —  nothing 
for  it. 

The  people  who  raised  me  failed;  they  borrowed 
money  and  mortgaged  me.  I  went  to  live  with  people 
whose  ways  did  not  suit  me,  and  I  thought  it  best  to 
come  to  Canada,  and  live  as  I  pleased. 


ALEXANDER  HAMILTON. 


I  was  brought  up  in  St.  Louis,  Mo., — was  not  very 
badly  used,  except  that  I  was  not  taught  to  read  nor 
write,  —  I  was  not  used  well  enough  to  stay  there.    I 


\'y 


178 


THB  refugee:  or  a 


\s 


hav§  seen  many  very  badly  used,  and  many  sent  down 
the  river  to  the  south.  It  was  a  common  thing  to  take 
off  a  drove  for  a  cotton  farm.  I  never  heard  that  it 
was  intended  to  sell  me ;  but  I  knew  it  might  be  sO, 
and  I  thought  I  would  make  hay  while  the  sun  shone. 
I  left  St.  Louis  in  '34,  at  the  age  of  about  eighteen. 
We  do  n*t  know  our  ages  exactly. 

I  knew  one  man  to  cut  off  the  fingers  of  his  left 
hand  with  an  axe,  to  prevent  his  being  sold  South.  I 
knew  of  another  who  on  hearing  that  he  was  sold  shot 
himself:  I  saw  physicians  dissecting  this  man  after- 
ward. I  knew  of  a  woman  who  had  several  children 
by  her  master,  who  on  being  sold,  ran  down  to  the  river 
and  drowned  herself:  I  saw  the  body  after  it  was  takeil 
from  the  water. 

I  think  that  God  made  all  men  to  be  free  and  equal) 
—  not  one  to  be  a  slave.  Other  nations  have  abolished 
slavery,  and  there  is  no  reason  why  the  United  States 
cannot  do  the  same  thing.  We  would  many  of  us  like 
to  live  in  the  United  States  were  it  not  for  slavery. 

Many  separations  I  have  seen,  —  dragging  husbands 
from  wives,  children  from  their  mother,  and  sending 
them  where  they  could  not  expect  to  see  each  other 
again. 

I  reached  Canada  in  1834.  I  had  only  a  dollar  and 
a  half.  I  had  no  need  to  beg,  for  I  found  work  at  once. 
I  have  done  well  since  I  came  here  :  have  made  a  good 
living  and  something  more.  I  own  real  estate  in  Lon- 
don,-^ three  houses  and  several  lots  of  land.  It  is  a 
healthy  country  —  Canada.  '  *  \ 

The  colored  people  in  London  are  all  making  a  liv- 
ing: there  is  no  beggar  among  them.  Some  of  us 
would  like  to  live  in  the  South  if  slavery  was  done 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  8LAYERT. 


179 


away  with,  and  the  laws  were  right  I  am  naturalized 
here,  and  have  all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  a  British 
subject. 

Many  have  gone  about,  collecting  money  and  clothes 
for  fugitives,  but  I  tlynk  that  is  not  necessary  now: 
they  can  get  work. 

A  great  many  fugitives  are  coming  into  London, 
they  are  coming  almost  every  day. 


\    : 


MRS.  SARAH  JACKSON. 

I  belonged  to  a  bachelor,  who  said  I  might  come 
away  with  my  three  children  if  I  chose.  I  always  de- 
sired to  come  to  a  free  State ;  and  I  could  not  bear  the 
idea  of  my  children's  being  slaves.  He  did  not  think  I 
really  would  leave,  although  he  said  I  might.  There 
was  some  opposition  from  his  relatives,  —  they  told  me 
they  thought  I  was  mighty  foolish  to  come  away  from 
a  good  master.  I  thought  I  was  n't  foolish,  considering 
I  had  served  all  my  days,  and  did  not  feel  safe  at  night: 
not  knowing  whom  I  might  belong  to  in  the  morning. 
It  is  a  great  heaviness  on  a  person's  mind  to  be  a  slave. 
It  never  looked  right  to  see  people  taken  and  chained 
in  a  gang  to  be  driven  off.  I  never  could  bear  to  see 
my  own  color  all  fastened  together  to  go  to  such  a  place 
as  down  the  river.  I  used  to  go  in  the  house  and 
shut  myself  up.  I  did  not  know  how  long  before  it 
would  be  my  own  fate.  I  had  just  enough  to  pay  my 
way  here.  I  expect  to  work  for  a  living,  and  I  am  try- 
ing to  get  a  house.  I  am  better  here  than  I  was  at 
home,  —  I  feel  lighter, — the  dread  is  gone.     I  have  a 


w 


'*%■:>■ 


180 


THB  REFUaSS;  OB  A 


V 


sister  and  brother  in  slavery  in  Kentucky.  I  intend 
to  send  my  children  to  school.  I  have  been  here  about 
a  week. 


(• 


HENRY  MOREHEAD. 

I  came  from  Louisville,  Ky.,  where  I  was  born  and 
bred  a  slave.  The  colored  people  have  not  sent  their 
children  to  school  in  London,  so  generally  as  desirable, 
for  this  reason.  The  fugitives  who  come  to  this  coun- 
try for  freedom  from  bondage,  have  been  kept  down  in 
such  a  manner,  that  these  privileges  granted  to  theni 
seem  somewhat  strange,  and  they  have  to  take  some 
time  to  consider  whether  they  shall  send  their  children 
to  school  with  the  white  children  or  not.  This  free 
school  is  something  so  unusual  to  them,  that  they  can't 
realize  it,  until  they  become  naturalized  to  the  country. 
Although  they  know  they  are  free,  they  have  a  kind  of 
timidness  about  them,  so  that  they  cannot  mingle  with 
the  whites  of  this  country,  as  they  would  if  they  had 
been  free  born.  Yet  the  day,  I  believe  is  fast  approach- 
ing, when  the  people  of  color  will  see  that  they  stand 
in  their  own  light  by  not  sending  their  children  to 
school.  The  time  is  now,  when  the  colored  men  begin 
to  see  that  it  is  the  w^t  of  education  which  has  kept 
them  in  bondage  so  long.  > 

My  Owners  used  to  object  to  my  going  to  school,  say- 
ing that  I  could  learn  rascality  enough  without  it  — 
that  "  niggers  "  going  to  school  would  only  teach  them 
rascality.  I  always  felt  injured  when  a  slave  and  when 
free,  at  the  use  of  that  word.  This  dampened  my  feel- 
ings for  getting  learning,  somewhat,  but  I  went  to  a 


%: 


NORTH-SIDB  VIBW  07  SLAYEBT. 


181 


night  school,  at  my  own  expense  of  course,  to  learn  to 
spell  and  to  read.  My  owners  found  it  out,  and  set 
policemen  to  break  the  school  up.  This  put  an  end  to 
my  schooling — that  was  all  the  schooling  I  ever  had. 
I  have  looked  at  it,  and  have  come  to  the  conclusion,  that 
it  is  best  that  colored  people  should  teach  their  children 
to  read  and  to  write,  in  older  that  they  may  know  the 
ways  of  the  world. 

I  left  slavery  a  little  more  than  a  year  ago.  I  brought 
my  wife  and  three  children  with  me,  and  had  not 
enough  to  bring  us  through.  My  owners  did  not 
know  that  we  were  coming.  I  left  because  they  were 
about  selling  my  wife  and  children  to  the  South.  I 
would  rather  have  followed  them  to  the  grave,  than  to 
the  Ohio  River  to  see  them  go  down.  I  knew  it  was 
death  or  victory  —  so  I  took  them  and  started  for  Can- 
ada. I  was  pursued,  —  my  owners  watched  for  me  in 
a  free  State,  but,  to  their  sad  disappointment,  I  took 
another  road.  A  hundred  miles  further  on,  I  saw  my 
advertisements  again  offering  $500  for  me  and  my 
family.  I  concluded  that  as  money  would  do  almost 
any  thing,  I  ought  to  take  better  care,  —  and  I  took  the 
underground  railroad.  I  was  longer  on  the  road  than  I 
should  have  been  without  r  burden:  one  child  was 
nine  months  old,  one  two  years  3ld,  and  one  four.  The 
weather  was  cold,  and  my  feet  were  frostbitten,  as  I 
gave  my  wife  my  socks  to  pull  on  over  her  shoes. 
With  all  the  sufferings  of  the  frost  and  the  fatigues  of 
travel,  it  was  not  so  bad  as  the  effects  of  slavery. 

I  am  making  out  very  well  here  —  I  have  not  been  in 
the  country  long  enough  to  accumulate  any  wealth,  but 
I  am  getting  along  as  well  as  the  general  run  of  people. 
It  stands  to  reason,  that  a  man  must  be  doing  some- 

16 


\* 


182 


THB  refugeb;  or  a 


\t 


thing  to  pay  a  rent  of  five  dollars  a  month,  and  support 
a  family  of  four  besides  himself,  as  provisions  are,  and 
have  been.   To  do  this  does  not  look  much  like  starving. 


AN  OLD  WOMAN. 


My  name  is 


-,  but  you  must  not  tell  it,  for  I 


have  children  at  the  South,  who  would  be  eaten  up  if 
their  masters  knew.  [The  old  lady  detailed  her  history, 
but  requested  that  no  use  should  be  made  of  it  at  the 

present  time,  excepting  the  part  which  follows.] 

I  am  now  eighty  years  old.  Now  I  will  tell  you  whafc 
I  saw  with  my  own  eyes.  I  was  called  on  to  leave  the 
room  where  was  a  dead  body  which  they  were  going  to 
strip  for  the  grave.  They  said  it  would  be  a  shame  for 
me  to  remain.  I  said,  "  it  is  only  a  lifeless  lump  of 
clay,  and  I  will  stay  and  see  with  my  own  eyes  what 
has  been  done,  that  I  may  say  it  is  so,  and  that  it  is  the 
truth."  I  remained  and  saw  the  man's  body.  It  was  a 
field  hand,  that  had  died  under  the  lash.  There  were 
a  few  marks  on  the  calves  of  his  legs,  a  few  on  his 
breast  where  the  whip  had  sometimes  reached  round. 
From  his  neck  to  the  calves  of  his  legs,  the  flesh  was 
raw  and  bloody  —  completely  cut  up  with  two  bull 
whips  by  the  overseer  and  driver.  It  looked  as  sausage 
meat  when  you  chop  it.  This  man  had  children  and 
grandbhildren  on  the  plantation.  The  man's  fault  was, 
—  when  they  finish  work  Saturday  night,  they  bring 
home  the  maul  and  wedges,  and  put  under  the  bed,  to 
have  them  ready  Monday  morning.  On  Monday  morn- 
ing, he  forgot  the  wedge,  and  started  back  to  get  it. 


NOBTH-0IDB  VIBW  OF  SLAVBBT. 


183 


The  overseer  tackled  him  —  be  resisted;  the  overseer 
called  the  driver ;  between  them  both  they  staked  him 
down,  and  whipped  him,  until  he  fainted.  They  got 
some  water  in  a  shoe,  and  revived  him,  —  he  fainted 
again  and  revived  —  the  third  time  ho  fainted,  and  they 
pould  not  bring  him  to  —  he  died.  The  overseer  ran 
away 


JOHN  WARREN. 

I  was  born  in  Wilson  Co.,  Tenn.,  lived  there  twelve 
and  a  half  years,  and  was  then  carried  to  Mississippi, 
by  my  owners  who  settled  in  Marshall  Co.  Two  of 
us,  brothers,  went  down  with  the  young  man,  to  whom 
we  fell  on  settlement  of  estate.  Then  he  sold  us  to  his 
brother  who  was  a  regular  speculator,  buying  and  sell- 
ing all  the  time  —  kept  from  eighteen  to  twenty  on  the 
place.  I  went  right  to  work  on  the  cotton  farm,  under 
an  overseer.  The  overseers  changed  every  year  I  stayed 
there.  There  was  pretty  hard  work  and  many  kinds  of 
it  on  the  cotton  plantations.  The  overseers  were  gen- 
erally cruel,  hard  men,  but  some  had  more  consideration 
than  others.  Four  o'clock  was  rising  time.  We  blew 
but  one  horn  —  when  that  sounded  we  all  got  up,  fed 
the  stock,  hogs,  horses,  etc.,  and  went  to  work.  The 
farm  contained  645  acres.  We  took  a  little  breakfast 
with  us,  which  we  cooked  generally  over  night :  but  at 
picking  cotton  time  we  had  a  cook  to  cook  for  us. 
Every  man  took  his  little  bucket  of  breakfast  to  the 
field,  where  fifteen  minutes  was  allowed  for  breakfast, 
sometimes  with  water,  and  sometimes  without,  —  no 


184 


THB  BSTuen;  ob  a 


\i 


coffee  nor  tea  in  the  field.     The  provision  was  com 
bread  and  pork  —  sometimes  enough,  and  sometimes 
not.    After  breakfast  we  worked  until  one.     The  over- 
seer generally  stayed  with  the  hoe-gang — women  and 
children.     He  could  see  from  one  field  to  another.     We 
had  no  drivers  on  our  farm  —  plenty  in  the  neighbor<v 
hood.     On  the  big  farms  they  fared  worse  than  we  did. 
The  overseer  walked  to  and  fro  behind  to  see  that 
they  did  not  cut  out  too  much  cotton  with  the  hoe,  and 
that  they  took  up  the  grass ;  if  they  did  not,  he  would 
whip  generally  with  a  long  bull  whip,  sometimes  vwth 
a  bunch  of  six  or  eight  black-gum  switches,  generally 
laying  on  hard.     There  are  marks  on  me  made  soon 
after  1  went  there.     The  only  way  I  got  shut  of  the\ 
whip  was  when  I  got  stouter,  to  fight  them  and  run 
away.     I  was  always  watching,  and  they  hated  to  lose 
my  time.     Twenty-five  acres  of  cotton  and  corn  to- 
gether were  allowed  to  a  hand,  and  if  one  goes,  it 
makes  it  hard  for  them.     Before  I  was  twenty  years  old, 
I  was  tied  up  and  received  two  hundred  lashes.     Gren- 
erally,  they  give  fifty,  and  then  stop  a  little  —  then  give 
fiity  more.     They  sometimes  tie  round  a  tree,  dome- 
times  to  four  stakes,  and  sometimes  gammon  them. 
[  Gambrel  is  meant  here :  the  wrists  are  bound  together 

—  the  arms  made  to  embrace  the  lower  limbs,  and  a 
gambrel  is  thrust  through  under  the  knees.]  I  have 
seen  a  man  receive  five  hundred  and  fifty  lashes  for 
running  away.  The  overseer  and  boss  drank  brandy, 
and  went  at  him.    They  gave  him  brandy  for  devilment, 

—  making  fun  with  him :  then  they  would  leav^e  him 
tied  a  while,  and  then  go  and  put  it  on  again.  I  have 
seen  men  on  the  next  farm,  whipped  with  a  handsaw 
flatwise :  the  teeth  would  cut  when  the  blow  was  put 
on.     The  saw  was  used  after  the  bull  whip. 


%  r. 


C 


NOBTU-BIDB  VIEW  OF  8LAVEMY. 


185 


I  learned  to  spell  and  read  some  in  Tennessee,  among 
the  children.  The  owners  knew  I  could  read.  I  bought 
a  copy  of  the  letters  in  writing  of  a  white  boy  in  Mis- 
sissippi, for  half  a  dollar.  It  was  a  good  price,  but  I 
did  not  mind  that.  I  kept  that  copy  of  the  letters  three 
years,  and  learned  to  wirite  from  it.  I  practised  nighto 
and  Sundays.  ...  I  got  so  I  could  write,  but  I  had 
nobody  to  show  me,  and  did  not  know  how  to  hold  the 
pen.  But  I  wrote  three  passes  for  myself.  I  wrote  one 
to  go  to  Memphis  with.  I  left  the  farm  on  the  night 
of  the  3d  July,  1854.  I  had  beaten  the  overseer  on  the 
Sunday  evening  before :  he  undertook  to  whip  me  for 
going  away  Sunday.  I  knocked  him  over,  bumped  his 
head  against  the  logs  of  the  corn-crib,  and  went  into 
the  woods, -where  I  staid  all  day  Monday;  Tuesday 
morning  I  left,  and  travelled  to  Memphis  on  foot,  ex- 
cepting the  last  four  miles,  which  I  rode.  At  Memphis, 
I  threw  away  the  first  pass  and  took  the  second,  which 
was  a  privilege  to  work  out  in  Memphis  a  month :  my 
calculation  was  to  get  on  board  a  boat  before  a  month 
was  out.  Then  I  had  a  third  pass,  which  said  I  had 
hired  my  time  for  the  rest  of  the  year  to  work  in  the 
State  or  out  of  the  State.  I  worked  in  Memphis  three 
days,  then  went  aboard  a  boat  and  showed  my  year's 
pass.  The  first  trip,  I  went  down  the  Mississippi  and 
up  White  River  to  Jackson  Port,  in  Arkansas :  then 
back  to  Memphis.  We  were  gone  eight  days,  lacking 
an  hour.  Then  I  hired  on  a  boat  bound  to  Cincinnati. 
I  saw^  the  sign  "  Cincinnati,"  and  went  aboard :  sailed 
that  evening,  and  got  safely  to  Cincinnati  in  five  days. 
I  stopped  there  two  or  three  daysj  and  then  left  for 
Cflinada.  A  man  in  Chatham  hired  me  to  come  here 
to  work.     I  get  good  wages. 

I  always  hated  slavery  from  the    first    It   never 

16* 


186 


THE  REPUG. 


OR  A 


\ 


seemed  right  to  work  for  nothing,  driven  in  the  rain, 
and  so  on.  When  I  was  small,  I  had  heard  of  a.  free 
State  where  black  people  were  free,  and  had  no  master 
nor  mistress,  and- 1  wanted  to  go  there.  I  have  no  dis- 
position to  go  South  again  —  I  love  liberty  too  well  for 
that.  I  do  n't  have  to  get  up  at  four  and  work  till  nine : 
I  do  n't  have  now  to  drive  a  wagon  Sundays  to  haul 
cotton  bales. 

I  believe  that  if  the  slaves  were  hired  and  paid  for 
their  labor,  they  'd  all  go  to  work,  and  they  would  do  a 
great  deal  more  work  than  they  do  now,  for  they  would 
not  be  thinking  all  the  time  about  running  away,  and 
fighting  the  overseers,  —  there  would  not  be  so  much 
confusion.  Sometimes,  on  a  holiday,  the  boss  hires\ 
them,  —  they  go  to  work  singing  and  holloVing,  with- 
out an  overseer,  and  the  do  the  work  better  than  when 
be  is  behind  them.  Now  I  do  n't  study  all  day  about 
running  into  the  woods,  nor  dream  of  it  nights,  as  I 
used  to.  There  are  no  hounds  here  to  be  running  after 
me.  There  is  a  man  down  there,  who  gets  ten  dollars 
for  catching  a  runaway :  if  he  has  been  gone  longer, 
he  gets  more.  A  good  "  nigger  dog  "  is  worth  four  hun- 
dred dollars.  I  knew  how  to  kill  the  scent  of  dogs 
when  they  came  after  me :  I  could  do  it  with  red  pepper. 
Another  way  which  I  have  practised  is,  to  dig  into  a 
grave  where  a  man  has  been  buried  a  long  time,  get 
the  dust  of  the  man,  make  it  into  a  paste  with  water, 
and  put  it  on  the  feet,  knees,  and  elbows,  or  wherever  I 
touched  the  bushes.     The  dog  won't  follow  that. 

I  came  here  to  work  and  expect  to  work.  Time  goes 
smoother  with  me  than  it  did.  One  month  there  seemed 
longer  than  two  do  now. 

A  planter  near  us  in  Mississippi,  bought  a  man  from 
Kentucky  out  of  a  drove,  who  ran  away,  he  was  treated 


N0RTH-SID9  VIEW  OF  8LAVERT. 


187 


80  loean.  They  followed  him,  got  ahead  as  he  was 
going  back,  caught  him  and  brought  him  back.  He 
fought  hard  not  to  be  taken,  gave  them  some  bruises, 
but  they  took  him.  When  they  got  him  back,  they 
gave  him  two  hundred  lashes  every  morning  for  seven 
mornings.  The  hards  on  the  place  told  me  so,  the 
man  told  me  so,  and  the  master  told  my  boss  so,  just 
like  any  other  joke :  he  said  "  he  was  the  d — dest  nigger 
on  God's  earth."  They  put  a  heavy  log  chain,  which 
weighed  twenty  pounds  around  his  body.  In  about 
a  year  they  sold  him  to  a  speculator. 

The  white  folks  down  south  don't  seem  to  sleep 
much,  nights.  They  are  watching  for  runaways,  and 
to  see  If  any  other  slave  comes  among  theirs,  or  theirs 
go  off  among  others.  They  listen  and  peep  to  see  if 
any  thing  has  been  stolen,  and  to  find  if  any  thing  is 
going  OR.  "  What  is  there  in  this  barrel  ?  Too  many 
d — d  barrels  in  here,  —  I  '11  have  'm  put  out." 

From  those  who  had  slaves  we  would  steal  whatever 
we  could  get  to  eat  —  chickens,  turkeys,  geese,  etc. 

The  slaves  have  no  particular  rules,  except  in  regard 
to  marriage :  they  try  to  make  it  as  near  lawful  as  they 
can. 


BENJAMIN   MILLER. 


I  came  from  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  about  twenty  years  ago. 
I  had  the  privilege  of  purchasing  my  freedom,  and  had 
paid  of  the  $500  asked,  all  but  $220 :  then  I  had  good 
reasons  to  believe,  from  information  which  I  received, 
that  after  ail  was  paid,  i  was  to  be  carried  down  the 
river  and  sold.    I  then  made  for  the  North.    I  was  a 


188 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


\' 


slave,  to  be  sure,  but  was  doing  business  as  boot  ^nd 
shoemaker.  I  learned  the  trade  while  I  was  paying 
$120  per  annum  for  my  time.  If  I  had  been  sure  of 
my  freQ  papers,  I  could  have  paid  the  $220,  and  would 
have  been  doing  a  good  business  there.  My  partner 
was  a  free  man. 

I  have  lived  in  and  about  London  ever  since  I  came 
out.  My  property  here  is  worth  about  $1,800.  It  con- 
sists partly  of  a  house  and  land.  I  have  brought  up  a 
large  family  —  have  a  wife  and  eight  children  living,  — 
have  buried  ten  —  three  in  St.  Louis,  the  remainder 
here. 

I  feel  thankful  that  I  can  mention  that  I  have  given 
a  part  of  my  time  to  the  spiritual  intere3ts  of  the  people  \ 
here  without  pay:  having  served  them  as  pastor  in  the 
Methodist  denomination  some  years. 

I  have  travelled  in  all  the  principal  places  in  Canada 
West,  and,  generally  speaking,  the  colored  people  are 
doing  well :  thank  God,  uncommon  well,  considering 
the  way  they  came.  Men  who  at  home  know  nothing 
but  to  come  and  go  just  as  they  are  bid,  here  go  into 
business,  and  do  well,  very  well.  They  are  temperate 
men,  considering  the  way  they  are  brought  up. 

We  that  begin  here  illiterate  men,  have  to  go  against 
wind  and  tide.  We  have  a  learned,  enterprising  people 
to  contend  with;  we  have  a  colder  climate  than  we 
have  been  used  to,  to  contend  with  ;  we  have  our  own 
ignorance  and  poverty  to  contend  with.  It  takes  a 
smart  man  to  do  all  that :  but  many  do  it,  all  make  a 
living,  and  some  do  lay  up  money.  I  asked  one  of  our 
old  white  'squires,  if  he  ever  saw  a  colored  man  that 
was  well,  in  this  township,  begging.    He  said,  No. 


QUEEN'S   BUSH. 


This  name  was  originally  given  to  a  large,  unsur- 
veyed  tract  of  land,  now  comprising  the  townships  of 
Peel  and  Wellesley,  and  the  country  extending  thence 
to  Lake  Huron.  While  it  was  yet  a  wilderness,  it  was 
settled  mainly  by  colored  people,  about  the  year  1846. 
The  following,  communicated  by  a  resident  of  Gait, 
gives  the  main  features  of  the  settlement  of  the  Queen's 
Bush.  The  testimonials  following  Jackson's,  are  from 
that  part  of  the  scarcely  reclaimed  wilderness  now 
known  as  the  township  of  Peel. 


WILLIAM  JACKSON. 

My  father  and  myself  went  to  the  Queen's  Bush  in 
1846.  We  went  four  and  a  half  miles  beyond  the  other 
farms,  to  Canestogo,  where  he  cleared  up  and  had  a 
farm  ;  for  years  scarcely  any  white  people  came  in,  but 
fugitive  slaves  came  in,  in  great  numbers,  and  cleared 
the  land.  Before  it  was  surveyed,  there  were  as  many 
as  fifty  families.  It  was  surveyed  about  two  years  after 
we  went  there.     The  colored  people  might  have  held 

(189) 


'4  ■,  'ki 


m 


\\ 


190 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


\ 


their  lands  still,  but  they  were  afraid  they  would  not  be 
able  to  pay  when  pay-day  came.  Under  these  circum- 
etances,  many  of  them  sold  out  cheap.  They  now  con- 
sider that  they  were  overreached  —  for  many  who 
bought  out  the  colored  people  have  not  yet  paid  for  the 
land,  and  some  of  the  first  settlers  yet  remain,  who  have 
not  yet  been  required  to  pay  all  up.  >v 

Some  colored  people  have  come  in  from  the  free 
States,  on  account  of  the  fugitive  slave  bill,  and  bought 
land.  The  farms  are  usually  from  fifty  to  one  hundred 
acres.  The  timber  is  hard  wood.  The  soil  is  produc- 
tive, and  it  is  a  good  wheat  country. 

A  great  many  who  sold  out  went  to  Mr.  King's  set- 
tlement, and  to  Owen  Sound.  The  health  of  the  col-1 
ored  people  was  very  good  —  there  was  hardly  any  sick- 
ness at  all :  indeed,  the  climate  of  Canada  agrees  with 
them  as  well  as  with  the  white  people.  It  is  healthy 
for  all. 

I  have  heard  white  people  who  lived  at  Queen's  Bush 
say,  that  they  never  lived  amongst  a  set  of  people  that 
they  had  rather  live  with  as  to  their  habits  of  industry 
and  general  good  conduct.  I  never  knew  of  but  one 
to  be  taken  before  a  court,  for  any  thing  but  debt,  and 
I  lived  there  seven  years. 

In  regard  to  riding  in  coaches  or  cars,  I  never  had  any 
trouble  in  Canada.  I  have  heard  of  some  who  have 
suffered  from  prejudice,  but  I  never  did.  The  amount 
of  prejudice  is  small  here,  and  what  there  is  grows  out 
of  slavery :  for  some,  when  they  first  come,  feel  so  free, 
that  they  go  beyond  good  limits,  and  have  not  courtesy 
enough.   But  I  find  that  they  get  over  this  after  a  while. 


NORTH-SIDB  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


THOMAS  L.  WOOD  KNOX. 


191 


I  was  born  free  in  the  eastern  part  of  Pennsylvania, 
but  removed  to  Pittsburg.  I  should  not  have  left  the 
States  only  that  I  was  not  treated  with  respect.  I 
would  go  to  market  with  provisions  off  a  farm  I  rented 
in  New  Brighton.  When  I  got  into  Pittsburg,  other 
farmers  would  drive  in  with  their  teams  into  the  tavern 
yard,  and  get  their  breakfasts  and  go  and  sell  out,  before  ' 
I  could  get  any  thing  to  eat :  so  that  by  the  time  I 
would  get  to  market,  the  best  of  it  would  be  over.  The 
same  thing  would  run  through  all  the  conduct  of  the 
whites.  In  the  place  where  I  went,  they  were  opposed 
to  my  coming,  —  but  after  four  years  they  were  grieved 
to  have  me  come  away.  But  I  could  not  stand  it,  and 
left  for  Canada.  I  have  been  in  Canada  eleven  years  — 
eight  in  the  Queen's  Bush.  When  I  came  here  it  was 
a  complete  wilderness :  I  took  hold  and  cleared  a  farm. 
I  would  rather  have  remained  in  my  native  country, 
among  my  friends,  could  I  have  had  such  treatment  as 
I  felt  that  I  deserved.  But  that  was  not  to  be,  and  I 
came  into  the  wilderness. 

Most  of  the  colored  people  living  here  are  doing  as 
well,  if  not  better,  than  one  could  reasonably  expect.  Most 
of  the  grown  people  among  them  are  fugitive  slaves.  I 
know  of  but  one,  free-born,  from  Pennsylvania,  and  that 
is  myself.  The  number  here  I  cannot  speak  of  with 
any  certainty.  Many  have  removed  to  Owen's  Sound 
and  other  places :  there  may  be  now  five  hundred  per- 
sons. All  are  equal  here :  I  have  been  about  here  a 
great  deal,  but  have  seen  no  prejudice  at  all. 


>  ■  .> 


192 


\\ 


THE  befugbb:  or  a 


SOPHIA  POOLEY. 


\^ 


,■'  ? 


I  was  born  in  Fishkill,  New  York  State,  twelve  miles 
from  North  River.  My  father's  name  was  Oliver  Bur- 
then, my  mother's  Dinah.  I  am  now  more  than  ninety 
years  old.  I  was  stolen  from  my  parents  when  I  was 
seven  years  old,  and  brought  to  Canada ;  that  was  long 
before  the  American  Revolution.  There  were  hardly 
any  white  people  in  Canada  then  —  nothing  here  but 
Indians  and  wild  beasts.  Many  a  deer  I  have  helped 
catch  on  the  lakes  in  a  canoe  :  one  year  we  took  ninety. 
I  was  a  woman  grown  when  the  first  governor  of  Can- 
ada ciame  from  England :  that  was  Gov.  Simcoe.  \ 

My  parents  were  slaves  in  New  York  State.  My 
master's  sons-in-law,  Daniel  OutWaters  and  Simon 
Knox,  came  into  the  garden  where  my  sister  and  I  were 
playing  among  the  currant  bushes,  tied  their  hand- 
kerchiefs over  our  mouths,  carried  us  to  a  vessel,  put  us 
in  the  hold,  and  sailed  up  the  river.  I  know  not  how 
far  nor  how  long  —  it  was  dark  there  all  the  time.  Then 
we  came  by  land.  I  remember  when  we  came  to 
Genesee,  —  there  were  Indian  settlements  there, — 
Onondagas,  Senecas,  and  Oneidas.  I  guess  I  was  the 
first  colored  girl  brought  into  Canada.  The  white  men 
sold  us  at  Niagara  to  old  Indian  Brant,  the  king.  I  lived 
with  old  Brant  about  twelve  or  thirteen  years  as  nigh 
as  I  can  tell.  Brant  lived  part  of  the  time  at  Mohawk, 
part  at  Ancaster,  part  at  Preston,  then  called  Lower 
Block :  the  Upper  Block  was  at  Snyder's  Mills.  While 
I  lived  with  old  Brant  we  caught  the  deer.  It  was  at 
Dundas  at  the  outlet.  We  would  let  the  hounds  loose, 
and  when  we  heard  them  bark  we  would  run  for  the 
canoe  —  Peggy?  and  Mary,  and  Katy,  Brant's  daughters 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP   SLAVERY. 


193 


and  I.  Brant's  sons,  Joseph  and  Jacob,  would  wait  on 
the  shore  to  kill  the  deer  when  we  fetched  him  in.  I 
had  a  tomahawk,  and  would  hit  the  deer  on  the  head  — 
then  the  squaws  would  take  it  by  the  horns  and  paddle 
ashore.  The  boys  would  bleed  and  skin  the  deer  and 
take  the  meat  to  the  house.  Sometimes  white  peoplo 
in  the  neighborhood,  John  Chishohn  and  Bill  Chisholm, 
would  come  and  say  'twas  their  hounds,  and  they  must 
have  the  meat.     But  we  would  not  give  it  up. 

Canada  was  then  filling  up  with  white  people. 
And  after  Brant  went  to  England,  and  kissed  the 
queen's  hand,  he  was  made  a  colonel  Then  there 
began  to  be  laws  in  Canada.  Brant  was  only  half 
Indian  :  his  mother  was  a  squaw  —  I  saw  her  when  I 
came  to  this  country.  She  was  an  old  body ;  her  hair 
was  quite  white.  Brant  was  a  good  looking  man  — 
quite  portly.  .  He  was  as  big  as  Jim  Douglass  who 
lived  here  in  the  bush,  and  weighed  two  hundred 
,  pounds.  He  lived  in  an  Indian  village  —  white  men 
came  among  them  and  they  intermarried.  They  had 
an  English  schoolmaster,  an  English  preacher,  and  an 
English  blacksmith.  When  Brant  went  among  the 
English,  he  wore  the  English  dress  —  when  he  was 
among  the  Indians,  he  wore  the  Indian  dress, — broad- 
cloth leggings,  blanket,  moccasins,  fur  cap.  He  had  his 
ears  slit  with  a  long  loop  at  the  edge,  and  in  these  he 
hung  long  silver  ornaments.  He  wore  a  silver  half- 
moon  on  his  breast  with  the  king's  name  on  it,  and 
broad  silver  bracelets  on  his  arms.  He  never  would 
paint,  but  his  people  painted  a  great  deal.  Brant  was 
always  for  making  peace  among  his  people ;  that  was 
the  reason  of  his  going  about  so  much.     I  used  to  talk 


Indian  better  than  I  could  English. 


I  have  forgo tten 


ters 


some  of  it — there  are  none  to  talk  it  with  now. 

17 


^\ 


s 


XH 


THE  refugeb;  or  a 


lilij 

in 


Brant's  third  wife,  my  mistress,  was  a  barbaroud  crea- 
ture. She  could  talk  English,  but  she  would  not. 
She  would  tell  me  in  Indian  to  do  thingvS,  and  then 
hit  me  with  any  thing  that  came  to  hand,  because 
I  did  not  understand  her.  I  have  a  scar  on  my  head 
from  a  wound  she  gave  me  with  a  hatchet ;  and  this 
long  scar  over  my  eye,  is  where  she  cut  me  with  a  knife. 
The  skin  dropped  over  my  eye ;  a  white  woman  bound 
it  up.  [The  scars  spoken  of  were  quite  perceptible, 
but  the  writer  saw  many  worse  looking  cicatrices  of 
wounds  not  inflicted  by  Indian  savages,  but  by  civilized 
(?)  men.]  Brant  was  very  angry,  when  he  came  home, 
at  what  she  had  done,  and  punished  her  as  if  she  had 
been  a  child.  Said  he,  "  you  know  I  adopted  her  as 
one  of  the  family,-  and  now  you  are  trying  to  put  all 
the  work  on  her." 

I  liked  the  Indians  pretty  well  in  their  plaee ;  some 
of  them  were  very  savage,  —  some  friendly.  I  have 
seen  them  have  the  war-dance  —  in  a  ring  with  only  a 
doth  about  them,  and  painted  up.  They  did  not  look 
ridiculous  —  they  looked  savage,  —  enough  to  frighten 
anybody.  One  would  take  a  bowl  and  rub  the  edge 
with  a  knotted  stick :  then  they  would  raise  their  toma- 
hawks and  whoop.  Brant  had  two  colored  men  for 
slaves :  one  of  them  was  the  father  of  John  Patten, 
who  lives  over  yonder,  the  other  called  himself  Simon 
Ganseville.  There  was  but  one  other  Indian  that  I 
knew,  who  owned  a  slave.  I  had  no  care  to  get  my 
freedpm.  i^;      ,       ^ 

At  twelve  years  old,  I  was  sold  by  Brant  to  an  Eng- 
lishman in  Ancaster,  for  one  hundred  doUaris,  —  his 
name  was  Samuel  Hatt,  and  I  lived  with  him  seven 
years :  then  the  white  people  said  I  was  free,  and  put 
me  up  to  running  away.    He  did  not  stop  me  —  he 


NORTH-SIDB  VIEW  OP   SLAVERT. 


195 


said  he  could  not  take  the  law  into  his  own  hands. 
Then  I  lived  in  what  ia  now  Waterloo.  I  married 
Robert  Pooley,  a  black  man.  He  ran  away  with  a 
white  woman :  he  is  dead. 

Brant  died  two  years  before  the.  second  war  with  the 
United  States.  His  wife  survived  him  until  the  year 
the  stars  fell.  She  was  a  pretty  squaw :  her  father  was 
an  English  colonel.  She  hid  a  crock  of  gold  before 
she  died,  and  I  never  heard  of  its  being  found.  Brant 
was  a  freemason. 

I  was  seven  miles  from  Stoney  Creek  at  the  time  of 
the  battle  —  the  cannonade  made  every  thing  shake 
well. 

I  am  now  unable  to  work,  and  am  entirely  dependent 
on  others  for  subsistence :  but  I  find  plenty  of  people  in 
the  bush  to  help  me  a  good  deal. 


JOHN  FRANCIS. 

I  was  twenty-eight  years  old  when  I  came  into  the 
Queen's  Bush  from  Virginia.  My  usage  down  South 
was  hard.  I  was  sold  three  times  :  first,  for  debt ;  then 
I  was  traded  off:  the  third  time  I  sold  myself  to  my- 
self. 

I  came  in  ten  years  ago.  *  Then  there  were  few 
families.  More  kept  coming,  —  colored  people,  —  there 
were  not  many  white.  The  land  was  not  surveyed. 
We  settled  down  where  we  saw  fit.  We  knew  nothing 
about  price  nor  terms.  After  considerable  many  settlers 
had  come  in,  we  called  a  meeting,  and  sent  a  man  to 
cret  a  sTrant  of  the  land  if  he  could ',  or,  if  not  that,  to 
find  the  terms.     The  answer  was,  that  we  were  on 


■■■  r 


\\ 


196 


THB  REFUOEB;  OB  A 


W 


clergy  reserved,  and  they  could  give  no  grant.  StiH  we 
kept  at  work,  clearing  and  planting.  The  land  came 
into  market  about  seven  years  ago,  being  surveyed  and 
a  price  set  on  it. 

Then  came  a  land  agent,  to  sell  and  take  payments. 
He  put  up  public  notices,  that  the  settlers  who  had 
made  improvements  were  to  come  and  pay  the  first  in- 
stalment, or  the  land  would  be  sold  from  under  them. 
The  payment  was  to  be  in  ten  annual  instalments  of 
155.  6e/.  currency,  5*.  to  the  dollar.  It  was  then  hard 
times  in  Canada,  and  many  could  not  meet  the  pay- 
ment. The  agent,  as  we  now  know,  transcended  his 
powers,  for  some  people,  white  and  colored,  still  hold 
their  lands,  not  having  made  payments.  The  agent 
had  a  percentage  for  collecting.  His  course  in  driv- 
ing people  for  money,  ruined  a  great  many  poor  people 
here  in  the  bush.  Fearing  that  the  land  would  be  sold, 
and  they  get  nothing  for  their  betterments,  they  sold  out 
for  very  little  and  removed  to  other  parts.  The  agent 
himself  told  me  he  would  sell  my  land  unless  the  instal- 
ment was  paid.  I  sacrificed  my  two  cows  and  a  steer, 
to  make  the  payment  that  I  might  hold  the  land. 
Others  did  not  do  that  and  yet  hold.  One  man,  fearing 
to  lose  all  he  had  done,  sold  out  for  ten  dollars,  having 
cleared  eight  or  ten  acres — that  property  is  now  esti- 
mated at  ^15,000.  Some  borrowed  money  on  mort- 
gages, and  some  paid  a^  heavy  per  cent,  for  money  to 
meet  that  instalment :  which  was  very  hard  on  the  poor 
settlers  who  had  their  hands  full  in  trying  to  live,  and 
clearing  land  so  that  they  could  live.  But  it  was  done  i 
and  it  has  kept  many  back  by  trying  to  meet  that  bor- 
rowed money,  and  others  by  their  moving  where  they 
would  have  to  begin  again :  that  is  what  has  scattered 
the  colored  people  away  from  here.     There  are  now 


NOBTH-SIDB  VIEW  OF  8LAVERT. 


IW 


about  three  hundred, — there  were  three  timeB  at)  many. 
Some  went  where  they  got  grants  of  fifty  acres  for  set- 
tling. 

The  young  men  growing  up  here  have  not  so  much 
knowledge  as  desirable,  as  there  were  no  schools  here 
when  they  were  growing  up.  Now  it  is  different,  and 
many  send  their  children.  The  teachers  generally  have 
not  the  feelings  in  regard  to  slavery  that  we  have.  It 
would  be  well  to  have  the  young  taught,  that  they 
should  improve  themselves  as  a  means  of  elevating 
their  race.  When  my  children  get  old  enough  to  read, 
I  intend  to  instruct  them  about  slavery,  and  get  books 
to  show  them  what  we  have  been  through,  and  fit  them 
for  a  good  example. 

My  mother  was  sold  away  from  me,  when  I  was 
about  eleven  years  old.  In  escaping,  I  sailed  over  two 
hundred  miles  on  the  sea  in  an  open  boat  with  my 
father,  a  day  without  eating,  and  ten  days  without  drink- 
ing. One  night  we  were  near  being  lost  in  a  storm. 
We  put  in  to  get  water  and  were  taken :  but  we  made 
out  to  clear  ourselves. 

The  colored  people  in  the  Queen's  Bush,  are  doing 
pretty  well  —  they  have  many  drawbacks :  as  they  can 
keep  no  books  nor  accounts,  they  are  liable  to  be  over- 
reached —  and  are  overreached  sometimes. 

17* 


and 


\  \ 


196 


TBX  befuoeb;  or  a 


\> 


'  I!- 


JOHN  LITTLE. 

[The  hero  of  the  i'oiinw'mf'  narrative  is  much  rcsnocted,  whererer 
he  Ih  Vnown — in  Canada  West.  And  in  that  countr}  of  good  farmii 
Mr.  Little's  is  one  of  the  best,  and  among  the  best  managed.] 

I  have  been  bought  and  sold  by  several  masters.  I 
was  born  in  N.  C,  Hertford  Co.,  nigh  Murfreesboro' : 
I  lived  there  more  than  twenty  years.  My  first  master, 
was  just  a  reasonable  man  for  a  slaveholder.  As  sla^'  • 
holders  go,  he  used  his  people  very  well.  He  hod  b  tl 
seven,  —  my  mother  and  her  six  children;  of  t'l chil- 
dren, I  was  the  oldest.  I  was  never  sent  to  si  hool  a 
day  in  my  life,  and  never  knew  a  letter  until  quite  latel 
in  life.  I  was  not  allowed  to  go  to  meeting.  My  busi- 
ness on  Sundays  was  looking  after  the  mules  and  hogs, 
and  amusing  myself  with  running  hares  and  fishing. 

My  master  broke  down,  and  I  was  taken  by  the 
sheriff,  and  sold  at  public  auction  in  Murfreesboro'.  I 
felt  miserably  ly.rl  to  be  separated  from  my  mother  and 
brothers  and  sisters.  They  too  felt  miserably  about  it, 
especially  my  poor  old  mother,  who  ran  all  about  among 
the  neighbors  trying  to  persuade  one  and  another  to  buy 
me;  which  none  of  them  would  promise  to  do,  expecting 
the  traders  to  give  more.  This  she  did  on  Sundays : 
week-days,  she  had  to  work  on  the  farm. 

Finally  I  was  sold  to  a  man  in  the  same  coimty, 
about  ten  miles  from  the  first  j[3,c{:.  He  abused  me 
like  a  dog  —  worse  than  a  drg    -  becau      I  did 

any  thing  wrong,  but  because  i  was  a  "  nigger."  My 
blood  boils  to  think  about  him,  let  me  be  where  I  will. 
It  don't  seem  to  me  that  even  upon  the  Lord's  day, 
and  now  I  know  that  there  is  a  hereafter,  it  would  be  a 
^jp^^ji  ijefore  God  to  shoot  him,  if  he  were  here,  be  was  so 


""%- 


NORTH-SIDB  VIBW  Of  BLAYERT. 


199 


bad :  he  so  abused  me,  —  he,  a  wise  man,  —  abused  me 
because  I  wna  a  fool,  —  not  naturally,  but  made  so  by 
him  ana  others  under  the  slave  laws.  That  is  God's 
truth,  'hat  I  wa    inhumanly  abused. 

At  tlie  time  of  this  ault^  T  was  about  twenty-three,  but 
being  a  slave,  T  did  not  know  iiiy  age ;  I  did  not  know 
any  thing.     He  came  and  said  to  me,  "  Well,  boy 
you  know  who 's  bought  you  ?  "     1  answered,  "  I  do 
not,  sir."     "  Well,"  he  said,  "  I  've  bought  you  :  do  you 
know  me  ?  " "  I  told  him  "  I  did."    "  I  have  bought  you, 
and  I'll  give  you  a  pass  (for  there  a  colored  man  can 
not  go  without  a  pass  even  from  an  auction,)  to  go  ti 
my  farm  ;  go  down  there,  to  the  overseer,  and  hi  '11  tell 
you  what  to  do."     I  went  on  Sunday  morning,  the  day 
after  the  sale,  and  delivered  myt?-  If  up.     Said  he,  "  Go 
down  there  to  the  quarters,  with  i  he  rest  of  the  niggers, 
and  to-morrow  I  '11  tell  you  what  to  do.     When  I  got 
down  there  I  found  abovit  sevent  v  rnen,  women,  and 

children.     They  told  me  Mr.  E was  a  hard  man, 

and  what  I  had  better  do  to  avoid  '^he  lash.  They  do 
that  among  themselves  any  time.  It  was  in  the  winter 
time,  and  when  the  horn  sounded  for  us  to  rise,  we  were 
allowed  fifteen  minutes  to  get  to  th«  overseer's  house 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  off.  I  wish  he  were  here 
now  to  hear  me  tell  it,  to  see  whether  1 1  's  the  truth,  — 
I  could  look  right  in  his  face  the  whol  ^  time.  Break- 
fast was  not  even  talked  about.  We  were  dismissed 
from  work  at  different  hours,  but  never  till  after  dark. 
Then  we  would  go  to  our  cabins,  and  get  up  our  little 
fires,  and  cook,  or  half  cook,  our  victuals.  What  we 
did  not  eat  that  night,  we  put  into  little  old  baskets 
that  we  made  ourselves,  and  put  it  handy,  so  that  when 
the  horn  sounded,  we  could  take  it  and  clear  to  the 
overseer's.     This  provision  served  us  all  the  next  day. 


^.''  '■ ' 


*f! 


s  \y. 


200 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


We  usually  ate  it  at  the  time  the  horses  ate.  We  were 
not  allowed  to  eat  during  work,  under  penalty  of  fifty 
lashes.  That  was  the  law  laid  down  by  the  master  to 
the  overseer.  We  had  to  plan  and  lay  schemes  of  our 
own  to  get  a  bite.  "  A  nigger  could  always  find  time 
to  eat  and  srnoke  and  shufHe  about,  and  so  he  would  n't 
allow  it  to  us.  He  would  n't  have  his  work  hindered 
by  eating."  I  do  n't  put  the  blame  of  cruelty  on  the 
overseer :  I  put  it  on  the  master  who  could  prohibit 
it,  if  he  would.  No  man  ought  to  take  the  place  of 
overseer,  —  I  blame  the  scoundrel  who  takes  the  office ; 
but  if  he  does  take  it,  he  must  obey  orders. 

After  being  there  three  weeks,  I  wanted  to  go  back 
to  see  my  mother  who  was  broken-hearted  at  the  los^\^ 
of  her  children.  It  seemed  as  if  the  evil  one  had  fixed 
it  so,  —  for  then  two  daughters  were  taken  and  carried 
off  to  Georgia.  She  had  been  sold  before  for  the  fel- 
low's debts,  —  sold  close  by  at  private  sale.  I  asked 
leave  of  my  master  Saturday  night.  I  went  to  him, 
pulled  off"  my  hat,  and  asked  him,  if  he  would  please 
give  me  a  pass  to  go  and  see  my  mother,  and  I  would 
come  back  Sunday  evening.  "  No  !  I  do  n't  allow  my 
niggers  to  run  about  Sundays,  gawking  about ;  I  want 
you  to-morrow  to  look  after  the  mules  and  the  horses 
along  with  the  rest  of  the  niggers."  He  was  the  great- 
est gentleman  in  that  neighborhood.  The  white  men 
all  looked  up  to  him.  He  was  what  is  called  a  "  nigger- 
breaker."  If  any  one  had  a  stubborn  slave,  that  they 
couldn't  bend  just  as  they  wanted  to,  they  would  hire 

him  to  S E for  a  year.     I  have  known  them 

to  be  sent  from  as  much  as  fifty  miles,  to  be  broke,  be- 
cause he  had  so  much  cruelty :  he  was  a  hard-hearted, 
overbearing  scoundrel :  the  cries  and  groans  of  a  suffer- 
ing person,  even  if  ready  to  dfe,  no  more  affected  him. 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW  OF   SLAVERY. 


201 


than  they  would  one  of  my  oxen  in  the  field  yonder. 
This  I  have  seen  and  known,  and  partly  endured  in  my 
own  person. 

His  refusing  the  pass,  naturally  made  me  a  little 
stubborn :  I  was  a  man  as  well  as  himself.  I  started 
and  went  without  the  pass,  and  returned  on  Sunday 
evening,  after  dark.  Nothing  was  said  until  Monday 
morning,  —  then  we  went  to  the  overseer,  and  were  all 
told  to  go  to  the  gin-house.  As  soon  as  I  got  there, 
the  overseer  and  two  colored  men  laid  right  hold  of  me, 
and  tied  me  fast  to  an  apple-tree  with  soiiie  of  the  bal- 
ing-rope,  and  then  sent  for  the  master.  He  came,  — 
"  Well,  Sir,  I  suppose  you  think  you  are  a  great  gentle- 
man." I  thought,  as  they  had  me  tied,  I  would  try  to 
beg  off  as  well  as  I  could,  knowing  that  sauciness 
would  not  make  it  any  better  for  me.  "  I  suppose,"  he 
went  on,  "  you  think  you  can  come  and  go  whenever 
you  please."  I  told  him  "  No :  I  wanted  to  see  my 
mother  very  bad,  and  so  I  ran  over  thfere  and  came  back 
as  I  told  you."  Said  he,  "  I  am  your  master,  and  you 
shall  obey  me,  let  my  orders  be  what  they  may."  I 
knew  that  as  well  as  he,  but  I  knew  that  it  was  devil- 
ishness,  that  he  would  n't  give  me  a  pass.  He  bade  the 
overseer  hit  me  five  hundred  lashes,  — Jive  hundred 
lashes  he  bade  the  overseer  hit  me !  Men  have  received 
them  down  south,  this  morning  since  the  sun  rose.  The 
overseer  ordered  two  slaves  to  undress  me,  which  they 
did :  they  turned  my  shirt  over  my  head  which  blind- 
folded me.  I  could  not  see  who  put  on  the  blows,  but 
I  knew.  It  was  not  the  master,  —  he  was  too  much  of 
a  gentleman :  but  he  had  a  plenty  of  dogs  to  set  on. 
What  I  tell  you  now,  I  would  tell  at  the  judgment,  if  I 
were  required.  'T  is  n't  he  who  has  stood  and  looked  on, 
that  can  tell  you  what  slavery  is,  —  'tis  he  who  has  en- 


I -is 


ui 


Mink 


302 


THE  REFUOEE ;  OR  A 


dured.  I  was  a  slave,  long  enough,  and  have  tasted  it 
all.  I  was  black,  but  I  had  the  feelings  of  a  man  as 
well  as  any  man. 

The  master  then  marked  on  me  with  his  cane  where 
the  overseer  was  to  begin,  and  said,  "  Whip  him  from 
there  down."  Then  the  overseer  went  at  it,  the  master 
counting  aloud.  He  struck  me  a  hundred  lashes  right 
off  before  he  stopped.  It  hurt  me  horribly,  but  after 
the  first  hundred,  sensation  seemed  to  be  beaten  out  of 
my  flesh.  After  the  first  hundred,  the  master  said, 
"  Now,  you  cursed,  infernal  son  of  a  b — ,  your  running 
about  will  spoil  all  the  rest  of  my  niggers :  I  do  n't 
want  them  to  be  running  about,  and  you  shan't  be  run- 
ning about."  I  answered,  "  Master,  I  did  n't  mean  anjr 
harm ;  I  wanted  to  go  and  see  my  mother,  and  to  get  a 
shirt  I  left  over  there."  He  then  struck  me  over  my 
head  twice  with  his  cane,  and  told  me  to  "  hold  my 
jaw."  I  said  no  more ;  but  he  told  the  overseer,  "  put 
it  on  to  him  again  like  the  very  devil."  I  felt  worse  on 
account  of  the  blows  with  the  cane  than  for  the  over- 
seer's whipping :  that 's  what  makes  me  feel  so  towards 
him  now.  It  poisons  my  mind  to  think  about  him.  I 
don't  want  to  think  about  him.  I  was  as  much  a 
man  as  my  master.  The  overseer  then  went  on  with 
the  bull  whip.  How  many  they  put  on,  I  do  n't  know, 
but  I  know  that  from  the  small  of  my  back  to  the 
calves  of  my  legs,  they  took  the  skin  clear  off,  as  you 
would  skin  beef.  That 's  what  they  gave  me  that  day 
—  the  next  day,  I  had  to  have  some  more.  One  of  the 
slaves  then  washed  me  with  salt  and  water  to  take 
out  the  soreness.  This  almost  put  me  into  a  fit.  It 
brought  the  pain  all  back  —  the  abominable  scoundrel 
kiiew^  it  would.  Then  I  was  taken  up  to  the  black- 
smith's shop  to  be  fettered :  that  was  the  way  S— 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


203 


E broke  "  niggers."     His  name   sounded  around 

there  as  if  lie  had  been  Satan  himself:  the  colored  peo- 
ple were  as  afraid  of  him  as  they  would  be  of  a  lion  out 
in  these  bushes. 

Iron  rings  were  put  about  my  ankles,  and  a  short 
chain  to  the  rings.  I  was  given  in  charge  to  two  slaves. 
Some  may  deny  that  the  slaveholders  are  so  bad,  but  I 
know  it 's  true,  and  God  knows  it 's  true.  A  stranger 
may  go  there,  and  they  are  not  such  fools  as  to  put 
such  punishment  on  a  man  before  him.  If  he  is  going 
to  do  that,  he  will  send  him  over  the  fields  out  of  the 
way,  and  while  they  are  enjoying  themselves  in  the 
house,  the  slave  is  suffering  under  the  whip.  A  regular 
slaveholder  has  got  no  conscience.  A  slaveholder 
knows  the  difference  between  a  northerner  and  a  south- 
erner.    If  a  man  came  from  any  other  part,  he  never 

saw  me  in  irons.     G L might  have  seen  me, 

or  L K ,  or  any  other  slaveholder  might  come 

and  see  it,  and  hold  a  council  over  it,  and  blackguard 
me  for  it :  "  Boy,  what  have  you  got  that  on  you  for  ? 
That  shows  a  d — d  bad  nigger :  if  you  war  n't  a  bad 
nigger  you  would  n't  have  them  on."  . 

The  two  slaves  took  me  in  charge,  with  orders 
to  kill  me  if  I  tried  to  escape.  At  night,  my  feet 
were  made  fast  in  the  stocks,  without  removing  the 
irons.  The  stocks  were  of  wood  with  grooves  for  the 
ancles,  over  which  laid  an  iron  bar.  I  could  lie  on  my 
back,  but  could  not  turn.  The  next  morning,  I  was 
taken  to  the  gin-house  to  receive  fifty  blows  with  the 
bucking-paddle.  This  was  my  master's  order.  I  re- 
ceived three  blows,  and  then  fainted.  When  I  came 
to,  only  one  slave  was  with  me,  who  took  me  to  the 
field  to  work,  —  but  I  was  in  so  bad  state  that  I  could 
not  work  that  day,  nor  much  for  a  week.     After  doing 


u 


204 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


a  hard  day's  work  in  the  fetters  which  had  now  worn 
to  the  bone,  for  they  would  get  wet  with  dew  in  the 
morning,  and  then  sand  would  work  in,  I  was-  placed 
in  the  stocks  —  my  ankles  sore,  bleeding,  and  corrupted. 
I  wished  I  could  die,  but  could  not. 

At  the  end  of  three  months,  he  found  I  was  too 
stubborn  for  him  to  subdue.  He  took  off  the  fetters 
from  my  ankles,  put  me  in  handcuffs,  and  sent  me  to 
Norfolk  jail,  to  be  shipped  for  New  Orleans,  But 
when  I  arrived,  the  time  that  niggers  were  allowed  to 
be  shipped  to  New  Orleans  was  out,  and  the  last  boat 
for  that  spring  had  sailed.  After  two  weeks,  I  had  the 
measles.  My  master  was  written  to,  but  neither  came 
nor  sent  any  answer.  As  the  traders  were  coming 
there  with  slaves,  the  turnkey  put  me  into  the  kitchen 
to  avoid  contagion.  I  soon  got  better,  —  the  turnkey 
said,  "  You  are  well  now,  and  must  be  lonesome,  —  I'll 
put  you  in  with  the  rest  in  a  day  or  two."  I  deter- 
mined to  escape  if  I  could. 

At  night  I  took  a  shelf  down  and  put  it  against  the 
inclosure  of  the  yard,  and  climbed  to  the  top,  which 
was  armed  with  sharp  spikes,  fourteen  inches  long,  and, 
risking  my  life,  I  got  over  the  spikes.  Just  as  I  had 
done  this,  the  nine  o'clock  bell  rung  the  signal  for  the 
patrols.  I  fell  on  the  outside  and  made  for  the  river, 
where  I  found  a  skiff  loaded  with  wood.  I  threw  over 
half  a  cord  in  a  hurry,  and  pushed  off  for  the  opposite 
shore,  to  go  back  into  the  neighborhood  of  my  old 
place,  hoping,  by  dodging  in  the  bush,  to  tire  out  my 
master's  patience,  and  induce  him  to  sell  me  running. 
I  knew  nothing  about  the  North  then  —  I  did  not  know 
but  the  northerners  were  as  bad  as  the  southerners.  I 
supposed  a  white  man  would  be  my  enemy,  let  me  see 
him  where   I  would.     Some  of  the   neighbors  there 


NORTn-SLDE  VIEW  OP   SLAVERY. 


205 


would  have  bought  me,  but  he  refused  to  sell  me  iu  the 
neighborhood,  being  ashamed  to  sell  there  a  slave 
whom  he  could  not  break.  He  gave  up  first,  but  I  was 
the  worse  beaten.  I  was  as  big-hearted  as  he  was :  he 
did  not  like  to  give  up,  and  I  would  not  give  in  —  I 
made  up  my  mind  that  if  he  would  find  whips,  1  would 
find  back. 

Having  lightened  the  skiff,  I  paddled  across,  and  went 
back  to  North  Carolina  to  my  mother's  door.  I  ran 
about  there  in  the  bush,  and  was  dodging  here  and 
there  in  the  woods  two  years.  I  ate  their  pigs  and 
chickens  —  I  did  not  spare  them.  I  knew  how  to  dress 
them,  and  did  not  suffer  for  want  of  food.  This  would 
not  have  taken  place  had  my  master  complied  with  my 
reasonable  request  for  a  pass,  after  I  had  done  my  work 
well,  without  any  fault  being  found  with  it.  But  when 
I  found  out  by  that,  and  by  his  cruel  punishment,  that 
he  was  a  devil,  I  did  not  care  what  I  did  do.  I  meant 
he  should  kill  me  or  sell  me. 

My  master  did  not  advertise  me  when  he  got  the 
news  of  my  escape,  saying  it  was  their  loss,  as  I  was 
placed  in  their  charge.  He  sued,  but  was  beaten.  After 
this  he  advertised  for  me,  offering  fifty  dollars  for  my 
capture,  dead  or  alive.  A  free-born  colored  man,  whom 
I  had  known,  betrayed  me.  Some  poor  white  fellows 
offered  him  ten  dollars  if  he  would  find  out  where  I  was. 
He  put  them  on  my  track.  At  ten  one  morning,  they 
found  me  lying  down  asleep.  I  partially  aroused,  and 
heard  one  say,  "  Do  n't  shoot :  it  may  be  somebody  else 
lying  down  drunk."  I  arose  with  my  face  towards 
them :  there  were  six  young  white  men  armed  with 
guns.  I  wheeled,  and  ran ;  they  cried  out,  "  Stop,  or 
I  '11  shoot  you,"  One  of  them,  a  real  youngster,  hit  me, 
firing  first ;  the  others  fired,  and  said  they  shot  their 

18 


A  I 


206 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


! 


|i<  \m 


best,  but  did  not  hit.  A  bullet  and  a  buckshot  entered 
my  right  thigh ;  the  shot  came  out,  but  the  bullet  went 
to  the  bone,  and  is  there  yet.  It  injured  a  sinew,  so 
that  my  foot  hurts  me  to  this  day,  when  I  walk.  I  ran 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  then  my  foot  all  at  once  gave 
out,  and  I  fell.  They  came  up  with  dirks,  threatening 
me  with  instant  death,  if  I  even  winked  my  eye  to- 
wards molesting  them.  They  took  me  in  a  cart,  and 
put  me  into  the  county  jail.  All  that  night  I  lay  wish- 
ing they  had  shot  me  dead.  I  did  not  want  to  face  that 
hyena  again.  But  he  was  as  afraid  of  me  as  I  was  of 
him.  He  would  not  have  me,  he  said,  come  on  his 
farm  again.  He  kept  me  in  jail  until  a  slave-driver  came 
from  Western  Tennessee — he  took  me  out  to  Tennesr* 
see,  to  hire  out  or  sell  —  any  thing  to  get  rid  of  me.     I 

was  hired  out  to  T R ,  in  Jackson,  Madison 

Co.,  two  years.  I  did  very  well ;  the  man  who  hired 
me  was  a  pretty  fair  sort  of  a  man  for  a  slaveholder. 
Daring  the  two  years  I  became  satisfied  with  my  con- 
dition, and,  in  about  a  year  after,  married  a  young 

woman,  belonging  to  T N :  she  is  living  with 

me  yet. 

About  nine  months  after  our  marriage,  I  was,  on  a 
sudden,  without  suspecting  any  thing,  jerked  right  up 
and  put  in  jail  again  to  be  sold.  I  was  taken  by  a 
driver  to  Memphis,  and  put  into  the  hands  of  a  planter, 
who  was  to  sell  me  when  he  got  an  opportunity.  In 
about  two  we(!ks,  when  I  had  got  rested,  I  started  to  go 
back  to  see  my  wife ;  but  I  got  taken  up  on  the  course, 
and  was  put  in  jail.  Tlie  people  asked  me  where  I  was 
going.  I  told  them  the  truth,  "  To  Jackson."  I  've 
been  into  pretty  much  all  the  jails  round  there.  It 
seems  to  me  wonderful,  when  I  have  known  men  to  be 
killed  without  doing  so  much,  or  going  through  so 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW   OP  SLAVERY. 


207 


much  as  I  have,  that  I  should  be  spared.  It  is  only  by 
the  mercy  of  God  that  I  have  escaped  so  many  dangers. 
I  have  known  men  to  be  killed  by  less  accidents,  —  but 
I  was  spared,  although  I  have  the  marks  of  many 
wounds  and  bruises. 

In  jail  they  fettered  my  ankles  again.  There  was  a 
black  man  in  the  room  with  me,  who  was  caught  under 
the  same  circumstances  as  myself —  going  to  see  his 
wife,  as  a  man  has  a  right  to  do.  I  was  very  muscular 
and  smart,  but  he  was  stouter  than  I.  We  broke 
through  the  top  of  the  jail  at  night  —  the  shingles  crack- 
ing gave  the  alarm.  My  friend  was  scared,  and  did 
not  dare  fall :  but  I  did  not  care  what  befell  me,  and  I 
rolled  off  to  the  ground,  without  having  time  to  use 
strips  of  bedclothes  which  we  had  prepared.  I  was 
chained,  and  could  not  spring  to  save  myself:  it  was  a 
hard  fall,  but  I  was  not  quite  stunned.  I  should  not 
have  got  off,  but  that  my  pursuers  bothered  each  other. 
They  first  started  for  the  roof,  and  finding  we  were  out- 
side, the  jailer  cried,  "  Go  outside  !  do  n't  let  'em  come 
down  !  do  n't  let  'em  come  down ! "  His  wife,  hearing 
this,  thought  we  were  coming  down  stairs,  and  secured 
the  door.  While  they  were  breaking  out,  I  crept  on 
my  hands  and  knees  about  two  hundred  yards,  to  a 
creek,  which  I  crept  over  in  the  same  way.  Then  I 
looked  around,  and  saw  the  jailer  on  the  top  of  the  jail 
with  a  light,  looking  for  me,  not  thinking  I  could  get 
down  chained.  He  called,  "John!  John!  where  are 
you  ?  If  you  do  n't  answer  me,  you  son  of  a  b — h,  I  '11 
kill  you  when  I  get  you."  A  neighbor  crossed  over, 
and  asked,  "  What  is  the  matter  ?  "  He  answered, 
"  The  d — d  niggers  are  breaking  out  of  jail."  I  heard 
this  distinctly  on  the  other  side  of  the  creek,  where  I  sat 
listening,  to  hear  what  course  they  would  take.     As  I 


III 


^ , 


H 
\\]'i' 


I! 


ill 


il 


208 


THE  REFUQEE;  OB  A 


crept,  I  had  to  spread  my  feet  to  keep  my  chain  from 
rattling  —  a  child  could  have  taken  me  chained  as  I 
was.  In  a  few  minutes  the  whole  village  was  in  an 
uproar.  I  heard  the  jailer  tell  some  one  to  go  to  a  man 
that  kept  dogs,  and  "tell  him  to  come  in  a  minute  —  I 
want  him  to  run  a  nigger."  I  then  crept :  I  could  creep 
faster  than  I  could  run.  From  what  I  had  told  my 
captors,  they  thought  I  had  gone  to  Jackson,  and  so 
failed  of  finding  my  track. 

T  did  not  know  where  I  was,  nor  which  way  to  go. 
I  found  a  road,  and  wandered  along  in  that.  When 
my  hands  and  knees  got  cold  with  creeping,  I  would 
get  up  and  shufUe  along  with  my  chain.  At  daybreak, 
as  the  Lord  would  have  it,  I  came  to  a  blacksmith's 
shop.  No  one  was  there.  I  went  in  and  felt  among 
the  tools  in  the  dark,  and  found  a  great  new  rasp.  I 
took  the  rasp  along  with  me,  and  crept  on  to  find  a 
bush,  and  wait  for  daylight.  As  soon  as  I  could  see  to 
do  it,  I  cut  my  feet  loose.  I  would  give  fifty  dollars  if 
I  had  the  irons  here  that  I  've  been  abused  in,  to  show 
people  who  say  they  do  n't  believe  such  things  —  who 
say  that  men  are  not  so  abused.  I  would  like  to  show 
them  the  irons  and  the  paddles  and  the  whips  and  the 
stocks  that  I  have  worn  on  me  and  been  punished  with. 
I  would  n't  take  fifty  dollars  of  the  best  British  gold 
that  ever  was  laid  out  to  me,  if  1  could  have  them  here 
to  show  people  how  I  have  sufiered  in  the  United 
States :  and  I  should  like  to  have  them  here  who  ordered 
the  blows  and  fastened  the  irons,  to  see  how  they  would, 
look  while  I  was  telling  of  it.  ♦ 

At  about  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  my  feet  were  free, 
I  had  had  nothing  to  eat  since  noon  the  day  before.  I 
wandered  through  the  woods  all  day,  eating  acorns, 
and  trying  to  find  the  route  for  Jackson.     I  meant  to 


.«^ 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY.  209 

f 

get  there :  nothing  would  have  stopped  me  but  death. 
I  was  not  going  to  have  anothet  an  send  me  round 
the  country  just  where  he  liked.  That  night  I  got  the 
course  for  Jackson ;  and  after  walking  an  hour,  I  en- 
tered a  barn-yard  and  found  among  the  harness  a  bri- 
dle. I  was  barefooted,  and  bareheaded  —  had  nothing 
on  but  my  shirt  and  pantaloons,  —  all  else  I  had  taken 
off  to  get  through  the  roof  the  jail.  I  then  walked  into 
the  stable,  and  found  what  appeared  to  be  a  gentle- 
man's riding-horse  —  and  a  better  nag  I  never  laid  leg 
across.  He  took  me  in  three  hours  further  than  he  ever 
took  anybody  else  in  six,  I  think.  When  I  got  to  Jack- 
son, I  turned  the  horse  loose  in  the  street :  he  wandered 
about  a  while,  but  the  owner  got  him  at  last.  When  he 
sees  that,  he  will  know  who  borrowed  his  horse,  and  if 
he  will  send  in  his  bill,  I  will  settle  it.  I  have  plenty 
of  land  and  plenty  of  money  to  pay  off  all  debts,  and  if 
some  of  my  old  friends  would  come  this  way,  I  would 
pay  off  some  other  old  scores  —  that  are  on  my  back. 

At  Jackson,  I  saw  my  wife :  she  had  been  bought  by 
F T ,  a  regular  negro-trader  —  one  of  the  big- 
gest dogs  in  the  bone-yard.  He  said  he  would  buy  me 
running  if  he  could,  but  no  one  was  to  be  told  where  I 
was,  as  he  wished  to  buy  me  cheap.  He  wrote  to  my 
master  that  he  had  bought  my  wife,  and  that  I  was 
dodging  about  the  place :  that  he  did  n't  want  me  about 
among  his  "  niggers,"  —  but  that  if  he  would  sell  me, 
he  would  catch  me  if  he  could,  —  if  not,  he  would  shoot 
me.     The  answer  was,  that  my  master  would  sell  me 

for  eight  hundred  dollars.     T paid  the  money  and 

took  possession  of  me.  He  put  me  on  his  farm.  He 
was  overbearing  —  his  overseer  was  more  so.  He  was 
one  of  those  who,  when  they  get  a  "  nigger,"  must  whip 
him,  right  or  wrong,  just  to  let  him  know  "  that  he  is  a 

18*  *•    ■ 


-  tyi 


m 


n 


"i.'t  I 


■^■J-' 


■•.;i' 1 


m::. 


Il' 


in-'.- 


i 


il!l!ll!l 


ff  1 


# 


210 


THE  RBFUaEB;   OR  A 


*  nigger.'"  No  fault  was  found  with  my  work.  He 
looked  sharp  to  try  to  find  some  way  to  get  at  me.  At 
last  he  found  a  way  to  do  it  —  an  excuse  to  whip  me, 
—  it  was  in  this  way:  one  day  he  heard  me  speak 
something  to  one  of  the  hands ;  it  was  some  of  our 
nonsense,  of  no  consequence  whatever.  But  he  was- 
itching  for  an  excuse  to  flog  me,  and  now  he  had  got 
one  —  for  it  was  a  rule  that  there  should  be  no  talk  on 
work  hours,  except  about  the  work.  My  master  having 
heard  that  I  was  an  old  runaway,  and  had  given 
trouble  to  my  master,  had  cautioned  the  overseer  not  to 
bear  down  very  hard  upon  me  until  I  had  got  habitu- 
ated to  the  place  and  the  ways.  The  overseer  went  to 
the  master  and  said  it  would  never  (k*  to  excuse  that 
"nigger;"  for  if  he  talked  the  rest  v:ould  stand  una 
hear  it;  he  should  either  whip  me  or  take  me  off  the 
place.  Master  told  him,  and  was  overheard  to  say  it, 
that  if  I  would  not  obey  him,  he  might  take  me  down 
and  give  me  three  hundred  with  the  paddle.  The  over- 
seer made  up  his  mind  to  j^ive  me  the  punishment  on 
the  next  evening.  When  I  had  got  through  work,  I 
went  home,  tired  and  hungry  —  my  wife  met  me  at  the 
door,  laid  her  hand  on  my  arm,  "  John,  three  hundred 
for  you  this  evening  with  the  paddle ! "  That  news 
filled  my  stomach  very  quick, — it  stopped  my  hunger, 
but  made  me  feel  thirsty  for  blood.  I  swore  that  I 
would  not  leave  the  quarters  until  I  was  killed,  or  had 
killed  any  man ;  master,  overseer,  or  slave,  who  might 
come  to  take  me.  But  as  it  happened,  a  gentleman 
from  New  Orleans  came  to  see  my  master  that  night, 
and  so  the  punishment  was  postponed.  If  this  was 
done  for  a  southerner,  how  could  a  northerner  expect  to 
see  any  punishment  ?  That  visit  was  what  prevented  my 
killing  a  man,  and  Jjeing  kiUed  for  it  that  night :  for  I 


He 

At 
me, 


was- 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  01    SLAVERY  211 

had  a  good  sharp  axe,  and  I  know  I  should  ha\  .  ^ 
it.  I  waited  some  time  for  them  to  come,  —  t  as 
they  did  not,  my  temper  cooled  down,  and  I  coiiciudtd 
to  take  to  the  bush. 

I  had  heard  that  if  I  could  get  into  Ohio,  and  man- 
age to  stay  there  one  year,  I  would,  after  that,  be  a  free 
man.  I  intended  to  wait  for  my  wife  to  get  smart,  she 
being  sick  at  the  time.  Iwent  into  the  woods,  and 
once  more  took  to  living  on  chickens  and  geese,  which 
I  understood  very  well.  In  about  two  weeks  I  went 
for  my  wife.  Another  man  had  agreed  to  come  with 
us :  but  he  was  weak  enough  to  advise  with  a  friend 
about  it,  and  the  friend  turned  traitor  and  told  his  mas- 
ter. They  are  just  the  same  as  white  men.  I  have 
found  out  since  I  have  been  in  Canada,  that  'tis  not 
the  skin  that  makes  a  man  mean.  Some  of  them  will 
betray  another  to  curry  favor  with  the  master,  or  to  get 
a  new  coat,  or  two  or  three  dollars,  and  I  have  noticed 
the  same  mean  spirit  among  white  men.  But  there  are 
others  who  would  die  sooner  than  betray  a  friend. 

I  bade  my  wife  get  ready  for  a  start  on  the  next 
night,  and  then  I  took  to  the  bush  again.  Meanwhile, 
the  traitor  slipped  to  our  master,  and  asked  him  if  he 
knew  that  three  of  the  negroes  were  going  to  run  away. 
He  told  him  "  No  —  which  three  ? "  He  named  us. 
«  Where  are  they  going  to  ?  "  «  Ohio  State."  This 
aroused  my  master :  he  went  to  the  quarters,  tied  the 
man,  and  tied  my  wife,  and  took  them  to  a  swamp. 
There  they  uncovered  my  wife,  and  compelled  a  girl  to 
whip  her  with  the  paddle  to  make  her  tell  where  I  was. 
It  so  stirred  me  with  indignation  to  think  they  should 
so  foully  abuse  my  wife,  that  I  could  have  run  a  dagger 
through  their  hearts  and  not  thought  it  wrong :  nor 
have  I  yet  got  so  far  enlightened  as  to  feel  very  differ- 


I 


r:tm 


1% 


;  I 


'■• 


m 


'f! 

■■■\i 

■ii 


?i#;yt-ii. 


mWm 


I  'tli'ii 


ii 


212  THE  rbfuoee;  or  a 

ently  about  it  now.  She  could  not  tell  him,  for  sne  did 
not  know.  The  man  also  was  punished,  and  put  in 
irons.  They  had  no  irons  to  fit  her,  and  sent  to  the 
blacksmith's  shop  to  get  some  made :  and  had  it  not 
been  for  some  craft  on  her  part  that  night,  I  should 
never  have  got  her  away.  Old  Billy,  with  whom  we 
were  usually  left,  was  the  blacksmith ;  and  while  he 
was  going  to  make  the  irons,  she  was  left  with  a 
younger  man  who  was  a  stupid  sort  of  a  fellow.  It 
was  then  nearly  noon,  and  she  had  had  no  food  for  the 
day.  She  was  then  at  the  quarters.  She  said  to  one 
of  the  girls,  "  M^ria,  you  go  to  the  turnip-patch,  and 
get  some  salad,  and  I  '11  go  to  the  spring,  get  some  wa- 
ter, and  put  on  the  meat."  She  expected  the  fello^ 
would  stop  her,  but  he  did  not.  She  carried  the  pail 
to  the  spring,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  then  dropped 
it,  and  made  for  the  bush.  It  was  a  down-hill  way  at 
first,  but  by  and  by,  there  was  a  rise  and  then  they  saw 
her.  Out  came  master,  overseer,  and  many  slaves,  in 
full  run  to  catch  her :  but  she  was  now  nearly  half  a 
mile  ahead,  and  ran  very  fast.  She  got  into  the  woods 
which  were  very  thick.  Master  then  ordered  a  halt, — 
he  had  found  from  the  other  slaves  that  I  had  a  pistol, 
powder,  and  ball.  I  had,  indeed,  and  would  have  used 
it,  rather  than  they  should  take  me  or  her.  But  I  was 
in  another  place  at  the  time.  » 

I  had  appointed  a  place  where  she  was  to  come  to 
meet  me :  when  I  went  she  was  not  there.  I  then  drew 
near  the  house  to  ascertain  what  had  happened,  and 
heard  a  loud  laughing  and  talking  in  my  cabin.  I  tried 
to  hear  what  it  was  about.  I  heard  one  of  them  say, 
"  Lord,  how  she  did  run  across  that  field !  ha !  ha !  ha ! " 
■She  had  baked  cakes  for  our  journey,  and  they  were 
making  merry  over  the  iiour  cakes.     Presently,  I  saw  a 


NORTH-SIDB  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


213 


[ne  to 

drew 

an4 

tried 


colored  man,  and  whistled  to  him.  He  came  up,  and  I 
learned  what  had  happened,  and  that  all  were  then  ouk 
on  a  hunt  for  me,  being  stimulated  by  a  promised  re- 
ward of  ten  dollars.  All  this  set  me  into  a  tremble ;  I 
turned  back,  and  went  to  the  place  I  had  appointed. 
She  was  near  by,  saw  me  and  ran  to  me,  and  so  we 
were  together  once  more.  We  then  walked  nine  miles 
northwardly  to  a  little  village  where  I  had  put  up  my 
clothes.  The  man  who  betrayed  us  had  told  our  route. 
I  got  the  things  and  went  to  the  barn  close  by:  then  my 
wife  was  exhausted,  and  fell  on  the  barn-floor.  I  had 
a  strong  constitution,  and  could  travel  all  the  time  ;  but 
she  was  so  fatigued  from  the  flogging,  and  the  race,  and 
the  long  walk,  that  she  fell  on  the  barn-floor.  I  re- 
turned to  the  house,  and  then  walked  to  a  tavern  stablci 
to  hook  three  or  four  blankets  to  keep  us  warm  on  our 
way  north.  If  this  was  wrong,  it  was  taught  me  by 
the  rascality  of  my  master. 

While  at  the  tavern  stable,  I  heard  the  dog  bark  at 
the  house  I  had  left;  I  gathered  three  blankets  and 
bolted  for  the  barn,  expecting  the  scoundrels  would  be 
pursuing  my  wife.  I  saw  a  candle  burning  bright  in 
the  house,  and  moving  from  room  to  room.  That  fright- 
ened me:  I  seized  and  shook  her,  —  "wife!  wife!  mas- 
ter is  coming! "  —  but  I  could  not  awaken  her.  I  gath- 
ered her  up,  put  her  across  my  shoulder  manfully, 
jumped  the  fence,  and  ran  with  my  burden  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile.  My  heart  beat  like  a  drum,  from  the 
thought  that  they  were  pursuing  us.  But  my  strength 
at  last  gave  out,  and  I  laid  her  down  under  a  fence,  but 
she  did  not  awaken.  I  then  crept  back  to  the  house  to 
see  who  was  there  and  to  get  my  things.  The  light  I 
had  seen  now  came  down  stairs,  and  moved  towards 


\\ 


214 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


the  barn.  I  was  so  near  that  I  saw  the  overseer  and 
six  slaves,  armed,  searching  for  me. 

Oh  my  soul !  it  makes  my  hair  stand  up  to  think  how 
near  we  were  to  getting  caught,  and  carried  back,  to 
be  abused  and  maltreated  unreasonably,  and  without 
cause. 

I  was  within  five  rods  of  them  when  they  went  into 
the  barn.  They  searched  it  thoroughly,  as  I  saw  be- 
tween the  rails  of  a  fence.  "  Oh  you  rascals ! "  I  thought, 
"  you  're  defeated  now ! "  —  but 't  was  a  close  run  and  a 
narrow  chance.  When  they  left  the  barn,  I  kept  watch 
of  them.  They  returned  the  candle  to  the  house,  then 
walked  the  way  they  had  come,  to  the  place  where  they 
had  left  their  mules.  They  stayed  there  about  a  half 
an  hour.  I  still  kept  watch  of  them.  I  wanted  to  get 
my  things,  but  I  was  wise  enough  to  know  that  every 
time  a  slaveholder  is  out  of  sight,  he  is  n't  gone ;  every 
time  his  eye  is  shut,  he  is  not  asleep.  They  then  re- 
turned toward  the  house ;  as  they  moved,  I  moved, 
keeping  the  same  distance  from  them.  When  they 
were  within  about  ten  rods  of  the  house,  they 
crouched  down  in  readiness  to  shoot  me  when  I  might 
approach  the  house.  They  had  rendered  me  desperate 
by  their  devilment,  and  knew  I  would  fight:  they  would 
not  dare  take  me  without  shooting  me  first.  I  watched 
them,  and  they  watched  for  me,  until  the  cocks  crowed 
for  morning.  It  would  not  do  for  me  to  remain  any 
longer  to  get  my  clothes  and  provisions.  I  went  back 
to  the  place  where  I  had  left  my  wife ;  she  was  then 
easily  awakened,  and  we  hied  to  the  woods  to  conceal 
ourselves  for  the  day.  We  had  no  provisions  but  a  raw 
ham.  We  dared  not  make  a  fire  to  broil  it,  so  we  ate 
of  it  raw ;  like  a  dog.     At  night,  between  sunset  and 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


215 


dark,  I  went  back  to  the  house  in  the  village  —  at  the 
door  I  saw  a  person  with  our  things.  They  gave  them 
to  me,  and  bade  me  God-speed,  and  that,  if  ever  I  was 
taken,  not  to  betray  them.  I  then  put  forth,  and,  with 
my  wife,  reached  Canada.     God  save  the  Queen ! 

From  Jackson  to  the  Ohio  River  was  called  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  miles,  —  crossed  the  river  to  Cairo ;  then 
we  footed  through  Illinois  to  Chicago ;  all  the  way  we 
lay  by  days,  and  travelled  nights.  I  forgot  the  name  of 
that  city,  and  wandered  out  of  the  way,  and  got  to  a 
river.  It  was  the  Mississippi,  but  I  did  not  know  it. 
We  crossed  into  Black  Hawk  territory.  There  I  was 
so  lost  and  bewildered,  that  I  had  at  last  to  go  up  to  a 
house  to  inquire  the  way.  I  found  there  a  man  with 
true  abolition  principles,  who  told  us  the  route.  He 
said  a  man  and  his  wife  had  been  carried  back  to  sla- 
very from  that  neighborhood.  He  did  not  take  us  across 
the  river,  but  we  found  a  way  over.  Then  we  walked 
on,  —  my  wife  was  completely  worn  outfit  was  three 
months  from  the  time  we  left  home  before  we  slept  in 
a  house.  We  were  in  the  woods,  ignorant  of  the  roads, 
and  losing  our  way.  At  one  time  we  came  to  a  guide- 
board,  which  said  "  5  miles  to  Parks's  Landing."  I  had 
learned  to  spell  out  print  a  little.  This  was  Sunday 
night.  I  took  the  direction  I  wanted  to  travel  as  near 
as  I  could,  and  we  went  on.  On  Wednesday  afternoon 
we  came  back  to  the  same  guide-board  —  "5  miles  to 
Parks's  Landing."  Many  such  roundabout  cruises  we 
made,  wearing  ourselves  out  without  advancing:  this 
was  what  kept  us  so  long  in  the  wilderness  and  in  suf- 
fering. I  had  suffered  so  much  from  white  men,  that  I 
had  no  confidence  in  them,  and  determined  to  push  my- 
self through  without  their  help.  Yet  I  had  to  ask  at 
last,  and  met  with  a  friend  instead  of  an  enemy.     At 


&^^f- 


<1* 


'11 .. 


216 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


Chicago  money  was  made  up  to  help  me  on,  and  I  took 
passage  for  Detroit,  and  then  crossed  to  Windsor,  in 
Canada.  That  was  the  first  time  I  set  my  foot  on  free 
soil. 

Work  was  dull  among  the  French  at  Windsor.  We 
stayed  there  about  six  months.  We  heard  of  the- 
Queen's  Bush,  where  any  people  might  go  and  settle, 
colored  or  poor,  and  might  have  a  reasonable  chance  to 
pay  for  the  land.  We  set  out  to  find  the  Queen's  Bush 
—  went  to  Buffalo  —  thence  to  Bla«k  Rock  —  thence  to 
St.  Catharines,  and  there  I  got  straight  instructions. 
We  had  not  a  second  suit  of  clothes  apiece ;  we  had 
one  bedquilt  and  one  blawket,  and  eighteen  dollars  in 
money.  I  bought  two  axes  in  Hamilton,  one  for  my- 
self, and  one  for  my  wife;  half  a  dozen  plates,  knives 
and  forks,  an  iron  pot,  and  a  Dutch  oven :  that 's  all  for 
tools  and  furniture.  For  provisions  I  bought  fifty  weight 
of  flour,  and  twenty  pounds  of  porlc.  Then  we  marched 
right  into  the  wilderness,  where  there  were  thousands 
of  acres  of  woods  which  the  chain  had  never  run  round 
since  Adam.  At  night  we  made  a  fire,  and  cut  down 
a  tree,  and  put  uj)  some  slats  like  a  wigwam.  This 
was  in  February,  when  the  snow  was  two  feet  deep. 
It  was  about  fourteen  years  ago.  We  made  our  bed 
of  cedar  boughs  from  a  swamp, 
three  or  four  days,  seeing  plenty 
plenty  as  sheep  are  now,  were  howling  about  us,  and 
bears  were  numerous. 

At  last  I  came  to  a  place  where  I  judged,  from  the 
timber,  the  land  was  good  —  and  so  it  proved.  My 
nearest  neighbor  was  two  miles  otf.  I  felt  thankful  that 
I  had  got  into  a  place  where  I  could  not  see  the  face 
of  a  white  man.  For  something  like  five  or  six  years, 
I  felt  suspicious  when  I  saw  a  white  man,  thinking  he 


Thus  we  ti*a veiled 
of  deer:  wolves,  as 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


217 


was  prying  round  to  take  some  advantage.  This  was 
because  I  had  been  so  bedevilled  and  harassed  by  them. 
At  length  that  feeling  wore  off  through  kindness  that  I 
received  from  some  here,  and  from  abolitionists,  who 
came  over  from  the  States  to  instruct  us,  and  I  felt  that 
it  was  not  the  white  man  I  should  dislike,  but  the  mean 
spirit  which  is  in  some  men,  whether  white  or  black.  I 
am  sensible  of  that  now. 

The  settlers  were  to  take  vis  much  land  as  they 
pleased,  when  it  should  be  surveyed,  at  various  prices, 
according  to  quality.  Mine  was  the  highest  price,  as  I 
had  taken  of  the  best  land.  It  was  three  dollars  seventy- 
cents  an  acre.  I  took  a  hundred  acres  at  first,  and  then 
bought  in  fifty. 

Myself  and  wife  built  us  here  a  little  log  hut  amid  the 
snow.  We  made  it  ourselves,  shouldering  the  logs  to 
bring  up  to  the  place.  We  went  to  the  cedar  swamp, 
and  split  out  boards  for  the  roof.  We  had  plenty  of 
firewood,  which  served  instead  of  blankets.  Wolves, 
any  quantity,  were  howling  about  us  constantly,  night 
and  day  —  big,  savage  wolves,  which  alarmed  the  peo- 
ple. Some  men  carrying  meat,  were  chased  by  them. 
Isaac  Johnson  was  obliged  to  take  up  a  tree.  We  got 
used  to  them  on  our  way  here,  and  did  not  fear  them  at 
all.  In  the  spring,  plenty  of  bears  came  about  us  after 
sheep  and  hogs.  One  day  my  wife  and  I  were  walking 
out,  and  we  saw  four  bears  in  the  cherry-trees  eating 
the  fruit.  My  wife  went  for  my  gun,  called  some  neigh- 
bors, and  we  killed  all  four.  Now  the  wolves  are  all  gone, 
and  the  deer  and  the  bears  are  scarce.  There  are  idle 
men  enough  about  here,  colored  and  white,  to  drive 
them  away,  when  they  had  better  be  chopping  and  clear- 
ing land. 

We  went  to  chopping,  day  and  night;  there  was  no 

19 


-  ft- 


i  \ 


218 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


itei 


delay  ;  we  logged  the  trunks  with  our  own  hands,  with- 
out cattle,  or  horses,  or  help,  —  all  with  our  own  hands, 
and  burned  them.  I  raised  that  year  one  hundred  and 
ten  bushels  of  spring  wheat,  and  three  hundred  bushels 
of  potatoes  on  land  which  we  had  cleared  ourselves, 
and  cultivated  without  plough  or  drag.  All  was  done 
with  the  hoe  and  hand-rake.  This  I  can  prove  by 
my  nearest  neighbors.  I  got  the  seed  on  credit  of  some 
Dutchmen  in  the  towns,  by  promising  to  work  for  them 
in  harvest.  They  put  their  own  price  on  the  seed,  and 
on  my  labor. 

In  the  next  winter  we  went  to  clearing  again.  My 
wife  worked  right  along  with  me :  I  did  not  realize  it 
then,  for  we  were  raised  slaves,  the  women  accustomed 
to  work,  and  undoubtedly  the  same  spirit  comes  with 
us  here :  I  did  not  realize  it  then ;  but  now  I  see  that 
she  was  a  brave  woman.  I  thank  God  that  freedom 
has  never  overweighted  us :  some  it  has,  but  I  have 
worked  to  support  it,  and  not  to  discourage  it.  I 
thought  I  ought  to  take  hold  and  work  and  go  ahead, 
to  show  to  others  that  there  is  a  chance  for  the  colored 
man  in  Canada ;  to  show  the  spirit  of  a  man,  and  a  de- 
sire to  improve  his  condition.  As  it  is  so  often  said  by 
slaveholders,  that  if  the  "  niggers  "  were  free,  and  put  in 
a  place  where  they  would  be  together  they  would  starve 
to  death,  I  wanted  to  show  to  the  contrary.  I  have  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land:  one  hundred  and  ten 
of  it  cleared,  and  under  good  cultivation :  two  span  of 
horses,  a  yoke  of  oxen,  ten  milch  cows  and  young  cat- 
tle, twenty  head  of  hogs,  forty  head  of  sheep ;  I  have 
tv^''o  wagons,  two  ploughs,  and  two  drags.    I  would  like 

to  show  this  to  that  everlasting  scoundrel,  E ,  my 

former  master,  and  tell  him,  "  All  this  I  would  have 
done  for  you  cheerfully,  and  thought  myself  at  home, 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OF   SLAVERY. 


319 


My 


",  my 
have 


and  felt  happy  in  doing  it,  if  you  would  have  let  me  : 
but  I  am  glad  that  you  scarred  and  abused  me,  as  it  has 
given  to  myself  and  my  family  the  fruits  of  my  own 
labor."  I  would  like  to  show  it  to  those  stout,  able  men, 
who,  while  they  might  be  independent  here,  remain  in 
the  towns  as  waiters,  blacking  boots,  cleaning  houses, 
and  driving  coaches  for  men,  who  scarcely  allow  them  . 
enough  for  a  living.  To  them  I  say,  go  into  the  back- 
woods of  Queen  Victoria's  dominions,  and  you  can  se- 
cure an  independent  support.  I  am  the  man  who  has 
proved  it;  never  man  came  into  an  unsettled  country 
with  lesser  means  to  begin  with.  Some  say,  you  can- 
not live  in  the  woods  without  a  year's  provisions,  —  but 
this  is  not  so :  I  have  come  here  and  proved  to  the  con- 
trary. I  have  hired  myself  out  two  days  to  get  things 
to  work  on  at  home  one.  If  there  is  a  man  in  the  free 
States  who  says  the  colored  people  cannot  take  care  of 
themselves,  I  want  him  to  come  here  and  see  John  Lit- 
tle. There  is  no  white  blood  in  me ;  not  a  drop.  My 
mother's  father  was  imported  from  Africa,  and  both  my 
grandparents  on  the  father's  side  were  also  imported.  I 
can  prove  to  him  that  every  thing  which  was  due  on 
the  land  is  paid ;  that  I  raised  seven  hundred  bushels  of 
wheat  last  year,  two  hundred  bushels  of  potatoes,  one 
hundred  bushels  of  peas,  two  hundred  and  fifty  bushels 
of  oats,  ten  tons  of  hay ;  fattened  fifteen  hundred  weight 
of  pork,  one  ox,  besides  other  produce  of  less  conse- 
quence. I  have  now  growing  fifty  acres  of  wheat,  eigh- 
teen acres  of  oats,  ten  of  peas,  one  acre  of  potatoes, 
and  twenty  acres  of  meadow  grass :  I  have  horses,  oxen, 
cows,  hogs,  sheep,  and  poultry  in  abundance.  The  man 
who  was  "  a  bad  nigger"  in  the  South,  is  here  a  respect- 
ed, independent  farmer.  I  thank  God  that  I  am  re- 
spected in  this  neighborhood  by  the  best  men  the  country 


;?: .  V- 


4M 


iiil 


ji 


iiiiipi; 


i! 


I  I!  Ill 
I   I  |{  I 


220 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


w 


can  afford  —  '^  an  lend  or  borrow  two  thousand  dollars 
any  time  I  am  asked,  or  choose  to  ask  for  it.  I  do  n't 
say  this  for  the  sake  of  boasting —  I  say  it  to  show  that 
colored  men  can  take  care  of  themselves,  —  and  to  an- 
swer any  who  deny  that  Canada  is  a  good  country. 

The  "  nigger  "  who  was  so  "  bad  "  among  Southern- 
ers, as  to  be  scarred  with  whips,  put  in  the  stocks, 
chained  at  his  work,  with  ankles  sore  from  the  irons, 
months  together,  legally  shot  and  maimed  for  life  by  a 
boy  who  was  too  young  to  be  trusted  with  a  gun,  sold 
into  Tennessee,  his  character  "  &«</,"  sent  after  him  to 
debase  him  there,  put  in  jail  after  jail,  hunted  by  hounds 
—  stands  up  here  at  the  North,  a  man  respectable  an^ 
respected.  I  do  n't  ask  any  one  to  take  my  word  for  it,- 
merely.  Ask  the  people  of  Peel,  Welle  3ley,  Woolwich, 
and  Waterloo  —  those  are  the  places  where  1  am 
known,  and  where  they  can  get  acquainted  with  my  char- 
acter; and  I  am  willing  it  should  be  compared  with 
that  of  any  slaveholder  whatever. 

The  abuse  a  man  receives  at  the  South  is  enough  to 
drive  every  thing  good  from  the  mind.  I  sometimes 
felt  such  a  spirit  of  vengeance,  that  I  seriously  medi- 
tated setting  the  house  on  fire  at  night,  and  killing  all 
as  they  cpme  out.  I  overcame  the  evil,  and  never  got 
at  it  —  but  a  little  more  punishment  would  have  done 
it.  I  had  been  so  bruised  and  wounded  and  beset,  that 
I  was  out  of  patience.  I  had  been  separated  from  all 
my  relatives,  from  every  friend  I  had  in  the  world, 
whipped  and  ironed  till  I  was  tired  of  it.  On  that 
night  when  I  was  threatened  with  the  paddle  again,  I 
was  fully  determined  to  kill,  even  if  I  were  to  be  hanged 
and,  if  it  pleased  God,  sent  to  hell :  I  could  bear  no 
inore.  If  any  roan  thinks  slavery  a  proper  thing,  let 
him  go  and  be  paused  as  I  was  for  years  in  North  Car- 


NOBTII-SIDE   VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


221 


and 


olina,  much  of  the  time  in  agony  from  irons  and  whips 
and  paddles  —  then  let  him  be  sold  off  a  thousand  miles 
into  Tenn  ssee,  and  begin  to  live  it  over  again,  and  I 
think  he  would  be  tired  of  it  too. 

I  want  v'ivery  man  that  has  the  heart  of  a  man,  to  put 
down  upon  slavery  with  all  his  heart  and  soul,  —  be- 
cause it  is  a  curse  —  because  it  makes  the  feel* ng  of 
dislike  to  color,  leading  the  white  to  abuse  a  "nigger" 
because  he  is  a  "  nigger,"  and  the  black  to  hate  the 
■Wt'ite  because  he  abuses  him. 

In  making  my  escape,  my  main  difficulty  was  in 
crossing  the  Ohio  Bottoms,  before  reaching  the  river. 
The  water  was  black  and  deep.  I  bound  our  packages 
on  my  wife's  back,  placed  her  on  a  log  as  a  man  rides 
on  horseback,  and  I  swam,  pushing  the  log,  holding  it 
steady,  to  keep  her  up.  Had  the  log  turned  right  or 
left,  she  would  have  slipped  off",  and  the  packs  would 
have  sunk  her.  It  would  have  been  death,  sure  —  but 
worse  than  death  was  behind  us,  and  to  avoid  that  we 
risked  our  lives.  When  we  had  crossed  one,  we  would 
presently  come  on  another,  and  had  to  go  through  the 
same  again.  By  and  by,  I  would  think,  this  must  be 
the  last,  —  but  when  we  had  crossed  this,  and  gone 
over  some  little  island,  there  would  be  another.  Oh 
dear !  it  seems  as  if  I  could  see  it  now,  —  I  almost  re- 
pented I  had  started,  but  on  I  went.  There  was  an- 
other and  another  —  good  swimming  creeks  :  but  when 
I  had  crossed  the  last  one,  my  spirits  rose  again  —  my 
heart  cheered  up,  and  I  thought  I  could  go  through  ail. 

After  we  had  got  to  a  place  where  we  intended  to 
pass  the  night,  I  would  leave  my  wife,  and  go  and  look 
all  around,  to  see  if  there  was  any  white  man.  I  was 
like  an  old  hunting  dog,  who,  when  he  has  treed  a  coon, 
will  not  believe  his  eyes,  but  goes  scenting  about  to  see 

19* 


222 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


if  the  track  has  left  the  Iree :  if  not,  he  will  come  back^ 
look  at  the  coon,  bark,  and  then  scent  again. 

1  was  hunted  like  a  wolf  in  the  mountain^  all  the 
way  to  Canada.  In  three  months  I  had  to  go  to  many 
places  to  steal  our  food.  I  would  have  asked  for  it,  but 
if  I  did,  it  was,  "  Where  is  your  pass  ?  "  To  avoid  this 
meanness,  and  the  risk  of  capture,  I  w^as  obliged  to  look 
out  for  myself,  and  I  made  good  use  of  my  time.  One 
night,  on  entering  a  dairy  near  a  farm-house,  the  door 
creaked,  and  an  old  man  called  out,  "  Sa-a-i ! "  But  I 
took  some  cakes,  and  Sal  made  no  answer. 

When  I  was  travelling  in  the  North,  I  found  that  men 
worked  days,  and  slept  nights  without  fear,  because 
they  were  honest.  At  the  South  they  do  not  have  this 
comfort.  The  overseer  watches  through  the  day,  and 
the  master  is  on  the  look-out  in  the  night.  I  know  this, 
for  many  times,  after  my  hard  day's  v/ork,  being  but 
half  fed,  I  went  out  to  steal  a  chicken,  or  a  goose,  oif  a 
pig,  as  all  slaves  have  to  do,  —  at  night,  if  the  dog 
barked  sharp,  I  would  see  master  at  the  window  with  a 
gr  A.  Sometimes  the  window  would  fly  up  —  "  who 's 
that?" — then  the  man  must  give  an  account  of  him- 
self. They  are  doing  wrong  in  robbing  the  slaves,  and 
so  they  are  uneasy  nights.  When  I  first  got  into  the 
North,  and  heard  a  dog  at  night,  I  would  dodge  away 
from  the  house,  expecting  to  see  the  man  of  the  house 
start  out  with  a  musket,  as  I  had  down  south :  but  I 
was  much  astonished  to  find  that  they  let  a  dog's  bark 
go  for  what  it  was  worth.  I  saw  then  the  difference 
between  free  labor  and  slave  labor :  the  northern  man 
labors  in  the  day,  and  sleeps  soundly  all  night.  He 
does  not  spend  his  day  in  laying  deep  schemes  to  whip 
a  "  nigger's  "  back,  and  then  start  up  at  night,  in  unex- 
pected placee,  like  a  ghost. 


I    I 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVEBY. 


223 


One  night,  in  Tennessee,  my  master  heard  a  dog 
bark ;  he  started  up  and  ran  out  in  his  shirt,  like  a  mad- 
man, t'^  'le  quarters.  When  he  got  there,  he  called  to 
us  by  name,  saying, some  one  had  gone  up  to  the  house 
to  see  his  girls  —  two  slave  girls  he  kept  at  the  house. 
Every  man  was  in  his  own  cabin,  but  one  old  man  of 
sixty,  who  was  out  getting  a  little  wood.  He  accused 
him  of  going  up  to  the  great  house  to  trouble  his 
people:  the  old  man  begged  off,  and  finally  was  ex- 
cused. 

How  can  men,  who  know  they  are  abusing  others  all 
the  day,  lie  down  and  sleep  quietly  at  night,  with  big 
barns  of  corn,  and  gin-houses  full  of  cotton,  when  they 
know  that  men  feel  revengeful,  and  might  burn  their 
property,  or  even  kill  them  ?  Even  now  the  thought  of 
my  cruel  abuses  begins  sometimes  to  creep  up  and  kin- 
dle my  feelings,  until  I  feel  unhappy  in  my  own  house, 
and  it  seems  as  if  the  devil  was  getting  the  better  of 
me ;  I  feel,  then,  that  1  could  destroy  that  tyrant,  who, 
knowing  that  I  was  a  man,  cut  me  with  a  whip  in  a 
manner  worse  than  I  w^ill  name.  Then  I  think,  "  What 
is  the  use  ?  here  I  am,  a  free  man  in  Canada,  and  out 
of  his  power."  Yet  1  feel  the  stirrings  of  revenge.  I 
know  that  thousands  at  the  South  feel  the  same,  for  we 
have  counselled  upon  it ;  the  slaveholders  know  this  — 
how  will  they  sleep  nights  ?  The  slaveholder  IS  afraid 
of  his  slaves :  it  cannot  be  otherwise.  Some  have  been 
round  the  borders  of  slavery,  and  seen  a  little  of  the 
edges  of  it,  and  they  think  they  know  a  great  deal 
about  it,  but  they  are  mistaken.  I  have  been  in  slav- 
ery, and  know  its  worst  is  hid  from  them.  They  have 
all  the  laws  and  customs  of  the  country  in  their  favor, 
and  yet  they  find  something  to  grumble  about:  how 
then  can  they  expect  the  slaves,  whose  feelings  are 


224 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


wretched,  even  when  they  are  best  used,  can  be  happy 
and  contented  ?  They  say  the  slaves  are  happy,  be- 
cause they  laugh,  and  are  merry.  I  myself,  and  three 
or  four  others,  have  received  two  hundred  lashes  in  the 
day,  and  had  our  feet  in  fetters :  yet,  at  night,  we  would 
sing  and  dance,  and  make  others  laugh  at  the  rattling 
of  our  chains.  Happy  men  we  must  have  been !  We 
did  it  to  keep  down  trouble,  and  to  keep  our  hearts 
from  being  completely  broken :  that  is  as  true  as  gos- 
pel !  Just  look  at  it,  —  consider  upon  it,  —  must  not 
we  have  been  very  happy  ?  Yet  I  have  done  it  myself 
—  I  have  cut  capers  in  chains ! 


ll 


ilflW 


MRS.  JOHN  LITTLE. 

I  was  born  in  Petersburg,  Va.  When  very  young, 
I  was  taken  to  Montgomery  county.  My  old  master 
died  there,  and  I  remember  that  all  the  people  were 
sold.  My  father  and  mother  were  sold  together  about 
one  mile  from  me.  After  a  year,  they  were  sold  a 
great  distance,  and  I  saw  them  no  more.  My  mother 
came  to  me  before  she  went  away,  and  said,  "  Good  by, 
be  a  good  girl ;  I  never  expect  to  see  you  any  more." 

Then  I  belonged  to  Mr.  T N ,  the  son  of  my 

old  master.  He  was  pretty  good,  but  his  wife,  my  mis- 
tress, beat  me  like  sixty.  Here  are  three  scars  on  my 
right  hand  and  arm,  and  one  on  my  forehead,  all  from 
wounds  inflicted  with  a  broken  china  plate.  My  cousin, 
a  man,  broke  the  plate  in  two  pieces,  and  she  said, 
**  Let  me  see  that  plate."  I  handed  up  the  pieces  to 
her,  and  she  tl^rew  them  down  on  me :  they  cut  four 


NORTH-dlDB  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


S^25 


11 


11 


gashes,  and  T  bled  like  a  butcher.  One  piece  cut  into 
the  sinew  of  the  thumb,  and  made  a  great  knot  per- 
manently. The  wound  had  to  be  sewed  up.  This 
long  scar  over  my  right  eye,  was  from  a  blow  with  a 
stick  of  wood.  One  day  she  knocked  me  lifeless  with 
a  pair  of  tonga,  —  when  I  came  to,  she  was  holding  me 
up,  through  fright.  Some  of  the  neighbors  said  to  her, 
"  Why  do  n't  you  loarn  Eliza  to  sew  ?  "  She  answered, 
"  I  only  want  to  learn  her  to  do  my  housework,  that's 
all."  I  can  tell  figures  w::en  I  see  them,  but  cannot 
read  or  write. 

I  belonged  to  them  until  I  got  married  at  the  age  of 
sixteen,  to  Mr.  John  Little,  of  Jackson.  My  master 
sold  me  for  debt,  — r  he  was  a  man  that  would  drink, 

and  he  had  to  sell  me.     I  was  sold  to  F T ,  a 

planter  and  slave-trader,  who  soon  after,»at  my  persua- 
sion, boijght  Mr.  Little. 

1  wa>  employed  in  hoeing  cotton,  a  new  employ- 
ment :  my  hands  were  badly  blistered.  "  Oh,  you  mu.^t 
be  a  great  lady,"  said  the  overseer,  "  can't  handle  the 
hoe  without  blistering  your  hands !  *  I  told  him  I 
could  not  help  it.  My  hands  got  hard,  but  I  could 
not  stand  the  sun.  The  hot  sun  made  me  so  sick  I 
could  not  work,  and,  John  says  if  I  had  not  come 
away,  they  would  surely  have  sold  me  again.  There 
was  one  weakly  woman  named  Susan,  who  could  not 
stand  the  work,  and  she  was  sold  to  Mississippi,  away 
from  her  husband  and  son.  That 's  one  way  of  taking 
care  of  the  sick  and  weak.  That 's  the  way  the  plant- 
ers do  with  a  weakly,  sickly  "  nigger,"  —  they  say  "  he 's 
a  dead  expense  to  'em,"  and  put  him  off  as  soon  as 
they  can.  After  Susan  was  carried  ofT^  her  husband 
went  to  see  her :  when  he  came  back  he  received  two 
hundred  blow^s  with  the  paddle. 


226 


THE  rbfugee;  or  a 


I  staid  with  T more  than  a  year.  A  little  be- 
fore I  came  away,  I  heard  that  master  was  going  to 
give  my  husband  three  hundred  blows  with  the  paddle. 
He  came  home  one  night  with  an  axe  on  his  shoulder, 
tired  with  chopping  timber.  I  had  his  clothes  all 
packed  up,  for  I  knew  he  would  have  to  go.  He  came 
hungry,  calculating  on  his  supper,  —  I  told  him  what 
was  going.  I  never  heard  him  curse  before  —  he 
cursed  then.  Said  he,  "  If  any  man,  white  or  black, 
lays  his  hand  on  me  to-night,  I'll  put  this  axe  clear 
through  him — clear  through  him:"  and  he  would 
have  done  it,  and  I  would  not  have  tried  to  hinder  him. 
But  there  was  a  visitor  at  the  house,  and  no  one  cam^ : 
he  ran  away.  Next  morning,  the  overseer  came  f6r 
him.  The  master  asked  where  he  was ;  I  could  have 
told  him,  but  would  not.  My  husband  came  back  no 
more. 

When  we  had  made  arrangements  for  leaving,  a 
slave  told  of  us.  Not  long  after,  master  called  to  me, 
"  Come  here,  my  girl,  come  here."  I  went  to  him  :  he 
tied  me  by  the  wrist  with  a  rope.  He  said,  "  Oh,  my 
girl,  I  don't  blame  you,  —  you  are  young,  and  do  n't 
know ;  it's  that  d — d  infernal  son  of  a  — ;  if  I  had  him 
here,  I'd  blow  a  ball  through  him  this  minute."  But 
he  was  deceived  about  it :  I  had  put  John  up  to  hurry- 
ing oflfl 

Then  master  stood  at  the  great  house  door,  at  a  loss 
what  to  do.  There  he  had  Willis,  who  was  to  have 
run  away  with  us,  and  the  man  who  betrayed  us.  At 
last  he  took  u&  all  off'  about  half  a  mile  to  a  swamp, 

where  old  A need  not  hear  us  as  be  was  going  to 

meeting,  it  being   Sunday.      He  whipped    Willis  to 


iiiiiKe 


him 


wiicre  we  were 


"  Ohio  State."     "  What  do  you  want  to  be  free  for  ? 


KORTH-Sir>B  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


227 


for? 


G —  d —  you,   what  do   you  know  about 
"Who  was  going  with  you  ?  "     "  Only  Jack." 


freedom  ? 
G— d— 

Jack  to  h — ,  and  you  too."  While  they  were  whip- 
ping Willis,  he  said,  "  Oh,  nnaster,  I'll  never  run  away." 
"  I  did  n't  ask  you  about  that,  you  d — d  son  of  a  — , 
you."  Then  they  tried  to  make  him  tell  about  a  slave 
girl  who  had  put  her  child  aside  :  but  he  knew  nothing 
about  that.  As  soon  as  they  had  done  whipping  him, 
they  put  a  plough  clavis  about  his  ankle  to  which  they 
attached  a  chain  which  was  secured  about  his  neck 
with  a  horse-lock. 

Then  they  took  a  rheumatic  boy,  who  had  stopped 
with  us,  whom  I  had  charged  not  to  tell.  They  whipped 
him  with  the  paddle,  but  he  said  he  was  ignorant  of  it : 
he  bore  the  whipping,  and  never  betrayed  us.  Then 
they  questioned  him  about  the  girl  and  the  child,  as  if 
that  boy  could  know  any  thing  about  it !  Then  came 
my  turn;  they  whipped  me  in  the  same  way  they  did  the 
men.  Oh,  those  slaveholders  are  a  brutish  set  of  peo- 
ple,—  the  master  made  a  remark  to  the  overseer  about 
m^^  liape.  Before  striking  me,  master  questioned  me 
about  the  girl.  I  denied  all  knowledge  of  the  affair.  I 
only  knew  that  she  had  been  with  child,  and  that  now 
she  was  not,  but  I  did  not  tell  them  even  that.  I  was 
ashamed  of  my  situation,  they  remarking  upon  me.  I 
had  been  brought  up  in  the  house,  and  was  not  used  to 
such  coarseness.  Then  he  (master)  asked,  "  Where  is 
Jack?"  "I  don't  know."  Said  he,  "Give  her  h— , 
B  ."  That  was  his  common  word.  Then  they 
struck  me  several  blows  with  the  paddle.  I  kept  on 
telling  them  it  was  of  no  use  to  whip  me,  as  I  knew 
nothing  to  tell  them.     No  irons  were  ready  for  me,  and 

T  ^.^. 


i. 1 — ,  ~ 


I 


1  was  put  uncieF  a  gaara,  —  but  I  was  too  cunning  for 


him,  and  joined  my  husband. 


228 


THE  refugee;   OB  A 


W 


My  shoes  gave  out  before  many  days,  —  then  I  wore 
my  husband's  old  shoes  till  they  were  used  up.  Then 
we  came  on  barefooted  all  the  way  to  Chicago.  My 
feet  were  blistered  and  sore  and  my  ankles  swollen ; 
but  I  had  to  keep  on.  There  was  something  behind 
me  driving  me  on.  At  the  first  water  we  came  to  I 
was  frightened,  as  I  was  not  used  to  the  water.  It  was 
a  swift  but  shallow  stream  :  my  husband  crossed  over, 
and  I  was  obliged  to  follow.  At  the  Ohio  Bottoms 
was  a  great  difficulty,  —  tlie  water  was  in  some  places 
very  deep,  —  it  was  black,  dirty  water.  I  was  scared 
all  but  to  death  :  but  I  had  become  somewhat  used  to 
hardship.  If  I  had  seen  a  white  face,  I  would  hav^ 
run  into  the  ilver. 

By  and  by,  we  succeeded  in  crossing  the  last  one. 
Then  we  struck  a  light  at  a  shingle-getter's  shanty, 
made  a  fire  with  the  clapboards  and  dried  ourselves. 
We  were  merry  over  our  success  in  getting  so  far  along, 
and  had  a  good  laugh  as  we  burned  the  boards  and  part 
of  the  shanty  itself.  I  felt  afraid  at  getting  into  a  boat 
to  cross  the  Ohio  River :  I  had  never  been  in  any  boat 
whatever.  Now  to  get  on  this  in  the  night,  frightened 
me.  "John,"  said  I,  "don't  you  think  we'll  drown?" 
"  I  don't  care  if  we  do,"  said  he.  V7c  reached  Cairo 
well  enough.  ■^' 

We  never  slept  at  the  same  time ;  while  one  slept, 
the  other  kept  watch,  day  or  night.  Both  of  us  never 
slept  at  one  time,  —  if  we,  had,  we  would  not  have 
reached  Canada.  One  morning,  as  I  was  v/atching  by 
a  fire  wc  had  made,  John  sleeping,  I  saw  a  dog,  and 
told  John.  Said  he,  "  't  is  some  old  white  man  hunting 
a  hog,  —  however,  we  had  better  go  from  this  fire."  We 
went  down  into  a  valley  and  there  remained.  In  the 
afternoon,  an  hour  before  sunset,  a  white  man  came 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP   SLAVERY. 


229 


suddenly  upon  us,  while  we  were  getting  ready  for  a 
night's  marchi  I  started  to  run:  John  stood.  The 
man  said,  "  Stop,  there  ! "  But  I  kept  on  ;  his  face  was 
so  white,  that  I  wanted  nothing  to  do  with  him.  John 
said,  «  What  did  you  say  ?  "  «  Stop,  there."  John 
said,  "  I  '11  do  no  such  thing."  Then  hard  language 
passed  between  them.  The  man  said,  "  I  '11  have  a 
pack  of  hounds  after  you  before  night."  John  answered 
him  with  an  oath  to  frighten  him,  "  You  had  better  do 
it,  and  be  off  yourself,  or  I  '11  blow  a  ball  through  you." 
The  man  never  had  heard  a  negro  swear  at  him  before. 
They  are  generally  so  cowed  down,  that  John's  swear- 
ing at  him,  alarmed  him  more  than  a  bullet  from  a 
white  man.  It  showed  that  he  was  desperate,  —  and 
that  was  the  only  reason  why  he  used  such  language. 
The  man  struck  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  went  off'  in  a 
hurry.  We  followed  him,  as  he  went  the  same  way  we 
were  going,  and  kept  as  close  to  him  as  we  could:  for, 
if  the  man  got  hounds  he  would  start  them  at  the  place 
where  he  had  seen  us;  and  coming  back  over  the  same 
route  with  hounds,  horses,  and  men,  would  kill  our 
track,  and  they  could  not  take  us.  But  we  saw  no 
more  of  the  man. 

Soon  after  dark,  we  came  to  a  lake.  We  found  an 
old  white  man  there  in  a  shanty,  who  was  caring  for  a 
slave  that  had  been  shot  by  his  master  a  few  days  be- 
fore. We  went  in  and  saw  him,  —  he  was  jmi  old, 
gray-headed  man.  His  master  had  threatened  him 
with  a  flogging,  and  he  took  to  the  river :  just  as  he 
reached  the  water,  his  master  shot  him  behind.  But 
he  got  across.  He  was  wounded,  and  without  hat  or 
shoes.  In  this  place  we  were  informed  about  our  route. 
It  was  in  Kentucky. 

While  we  were  stopping  at  the  shanty,  a  day  or  two, 

20 


2m 


THB  REFUGBti;  OR  A 


\^ 


';i'i  lb 


John  went  out  one  evening  with  the  old  man,  to  hunt 
for  proviMions.  I  went  to  bed.  By  and  by  the  dogs 
barked ;  the  door  opened,  and  by  the  fire  I  saw  five 
white  men.  One  said,  "  Who  you  got  here  ?  "  "  Only 
my  own  family."  I  was  afraid,  and  crept  out  slyly  on 
my  hands  and  knees,  and  hid  behind  an  ash-barrel  until 
they  were  gone. 

In  a  few  days  we  crossed  the  ferry.  Then  we  went 
on,  and  were  without  provisions,  except  some  corn, 
which  we  parched.  We  met  here  a  runaway  slave, 
who  knew  the  route  of  the  country  above  us.  He  waa 
. ,  returning  to  his  master,  where  he  had  a  wife  and  chil- 
dren. 

At  Cairo,  the  gallinippers  were  so  bad,  we  made  a- 
smoke  to  keep  them  off.  Soon  after  I  heard  a  bell  ring. 
Said  I,  "  John,  somebody  's  dead."  It  was  a  steamboat 
bell  tolling.  Presently  there  she  was,  a  great  boat  full 
of  white  men.  We  were  right  on  the  river's  bank,  and 
our  fire  sent  the  smoke  straight  up  into  the  calm.  We 
lay  flat  on  the  ground.  John  read  the  name  —  Maria. 
No  one  noticed  us :  after  the  boat  was  gone,  we  had  a 
hearty  laugh  at  our  good  luck.  Thinking  there  was  no 
more  trouble,  we  did  not  put  out  our  fire.  Presently 
came  a  yawl  boat :  they  saw  our  fire,  and  hailed,  "  Boat 
ashore !  boat  ashore !  runaway  niggers !  runaway  nig- 
gers ! "  We  lay  close,  and  the  boat  kept  on.  We  put 
out  our  fire,  and  went  further  back  from  the  river,  but 
the  musquitoes  were  so  bad,  we  made  another  fire. 
But  a  man  with  a  gun  then  came  along,  looking  up  into 
the  trees.  I  scattered  the  fire  to  put  it  out,  but  it 
smoked  so  much  the  worse.  We  at  last  hid  in  a  thicket 
of  briers,  where  we  were  almost  devoured  by  musqui- 
toes, for  want  of  a  little  smoke. 

Next  day  I  lay  down  to  sleep,  while  John  kept  watch. 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW   OF  SLAVERY. 


When  I  awoke,  I  told  him  I  had  dreamed  about  a  white 
cow,  which  still  seemed  a  white  woman,  and  that  I 
feared  we  would  be  caught.  We  were  in  the  woods,  in 
a  low,  damp  place,  where  there  was  no  bit  of  a  road, 
and  we  knew  not  where  the  road  was.  We  started  to 
find  a  road,  and  then  met  with  a  white  woman.  I  re- 
minded John  of  my  dream.  "  Good  evening,  good 
evening,"  said  she.  My  husband  asked  if  she  would 
sell  him  some  bread :  this  was  to  make  conversation,  so 
he  could  inquire  the  road.  "  Oh  yes,  just  come  to  my 
house,  I'll  give  you  some  bread."  We  went  to  the 
house,  and  presently  her  husband  came  in.  He  asked, 
"  Have  you  got  free  papers  ?  "  John  answered,  "  No." 
"  Where  are  you  travelling  to  ?  "  "  To  the  upper  lakes." 
"  We  are  not  allowed  to  let  a  colored  man  go  through 
here  without  free  papers :  if  we  do,  we  are  liable  to  a 
fine  of  forty  dollars."  He  allowed  us  to  remain  all 
night,  —  but  in  the  morning  we  were  to  go  before  a 
squire  at  Dorrety,  and,  if  we  were  free,  we  would  go  on. 
This  was  the  woman's  arrangement :  the  man  did  not 
seem  inclined  to  stop  us.  She  said,  "  If  we  stop  you, 
we  shall  get  fifty  dollars  apiece  for  you:  that's  a  — 
good  —  deal  —  of — money ^  —  you  know."  The  man 
asked  John  if  he  had  a  pistol.  John  produced  one. 
The  man  said  't  was  no  harm,  he  would  take  care  of  it 
for  him,  —  and  locked  it  up.  They  lived  in  a  little, 
dirty  log  hut :  they  took  the  bed  off  the  bedstead,  and 
lay  down  on  it  close  to  the  door,  so  that  it  could  not  be 
opened  without  disturbing  him.  The  man  took  a  nice 
silver-mounted  pistol  from  a  cupboard,  loaded  it,  and 
placed  it  where  he  could  reach  it  in  the  night.  We  lay 
on  the  bedstead  —  they  on  the  floor.  She  was  the  evil 
one :  she  had  made  the  plans.  Their  name  was  Smith. 
At  about  three   o'clock   in   the  morning,   husband 


232 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


aroused  me,  —  "I'm  going  away  from  here;  I  don't 

value  tb'^'^ ,  now  other  folks  are  asleep."     We  boiii  got 

up.    Jghn  spoke  roughly,  "  Mr.  Smith !  Mr.  Smithj " 

He  aroused:  "we  are  unwell,  and  must  pass  out,.— - 

we'll  be  back  very  soon."     Mr.   Smith  got  up  very 

readily,  and  pulled  the  bed  away  a  little,  so  we  could 

slip  out.    As  John  passed  by  the  pistol,  he  put  his  hand 

on  it^  and  took  it  in  exchange  for  his  old  one.     It  is  a 

beautiful  rifle  pistol,  percussion  lock,  —  John  has  been 

offered  fifteen  dollars  for  it.     If  the  man  will  come  here 

with  John's  old  flint  lock,  my  husband  will  exchange 

'  back,  and  give  him  boot.    I  am  very  sorry  for  my  friend, 

Mrs.  Smith,  that  she  did  not  get  the  hundred  dollars  tp 

go  a  shopping  with  in  Dorrety  —  am  much  obliged  to 

her  for  our  night's  lodging.     We  went  across  a  small 

stream,  and  waited  for  daylight.     Then  we  went  on  to 

Dorrety,  and  passed  through  the  edge  of  it,  without 

calling  on  the  squire,  as  we  had  not  time. 

One  Sunday  morning,  being  on  a  prairie  where  we 
could  see  no  house  —  about  fifty  miles  west  of  Spring- 
field —  we  ventured  to  travel  by  day.  We  encountered 
an  animal,  which  v/e  at  first  supposed  to  be  a  dog ;  but 
when  he  came  near,  we  concluded  it  to  be  a  wolf.  He 
yelped  something  like  a  dog :  he  did  not  attack  us.  We 
went  on  and  crossed  a  stream,  and  then  we  saw  three 
large  wood-wolves,  sneaking  around  as  if  waiting  for 
darkness.  As  we  kept  on,  the  three  wolves  kept  in 
sight,  now  on  one  hand,  and  now  on  the  of  er.  I  felt 
afraid,  expecting  they  would  attack  us :  but  they  left  us. 
Afterward  we  made  a  fire  with  elder-stalks,  and  I  un^ 
dertook  to  make  some  corn  bread.  I  got  it  mixed,  and 
put  it  on  the  fire,  —  when  I  saw  a  party  of  men  md 
boys  on  horseback,  apparently  approaching  us,  I  .  ut 
out  the  fire;  they  turnei  a  little  away,  and  did  not  ap- 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVBBY. 


233 


pear  to  perceive  us :  I  rekindled  the  fire,  and  baked  our 
bread.  John  managed  to  keep  us  well  supplied  with 
pies  and  bread.  We  used  to  laugh  to  think  how  people 
would  puzzle  over  who  drank  the  milk  and  left  the 
pitchers,  and  who  hooked  the  dough. 

I  got  to  be  quite  hardy  —  quite  used  to  water  and 
bush-whacking ;  so  that  by  the  time  I  got  to  Canada,  I 
could  handle  an  axe,  or  hoe,  or  any  thing  I  felt  proud 
to  be  able  to  do  it  ■ —  to  help  get  cleared  up,  so  that  we 
could  have  a  home,  and  plenty  to  live  on.  I  now  enjoy 
my  life  very  well  —  I  have  nothing  to  complain  of. 
We  have  horses  and  a  pleasure-wagon,  and  I  can  ride 
out  when  and  where  I  please,  without  a  pass.  The 
best  of  the  merchants  and  clerks  pay  me  as  much  atten- 
tion as  though  I  were  a  white  woman :  I  am  as  politely 
accosted  as  any  woman  would  wish  to  be. 

I  have  lost  two  children  by  death ;  one  little  girl  is 
all  that  is  spared  to  me.  She  is  but  four  years  old.  I 
intend  to  have  her  well  educated,  if  the  Lord  lets  us 


20 


CHATHAM. 


"  At  Chatham,"  said  Mr.  John  Little,  "  tlie  fugitives 
are  as  thick  as  blackbirds  in  a  corn-field."  Here,  in- 
deed, more  fully  than  anywhere  else,  the  traveller  real- 
izes the  extent  of  the  American  exodus.  At  every  turri, 
he  meets  members  of  the  African  race,  single  or  in 
groups;  he  sees  them  building  and  painting  houses, 
working  in  mills,  engaged  in  every  handicraft  employ- 
ment :  here  he  notices  a  street  occupied  by  colored  shop- 
keepers and  clerks:  if  he  steps  into  the  environs,  he 
finds  the  blacks  in  every  quarter,  busy  upon  their  gar- 
dens and  farms. 

The  white  population  of  Chatham  is  reckoned  at 
four  thousand:  the  number  of  colored  persons  in  the 
town  may  be  safely  estimated  at  eight  hundred.  If  to 
this  estimate  is  added  the  number  residing  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, the  total  amount  cannot  be  less  than  two 
thousand.  A  gentleman,  holding  an  office  in  the  town, 
and  who,  having  been  one  of  the  earliest  settlers,  has  zeen 
the  town  grow  up  around  him,  remarked  of  th<5  colored 
population,  "  They  are  as  good  a  body  of  people  as 
you  can  find  anywhere  :  "  and  their  general  appearance, 
and  attention  to  business  confirm  his  opinion. 

Among  that  portion  of  the  whites  who  put  a  high 
value  on  their  prejudices,  and  a  lofty  ertimate  on  their 
own  personal  importance^  there  seems  to  be  a  dread 

(284) 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


235 


that  some  terrible  and  unpardonabk  crime,  termed 
*^  sauciness  "  may  yet  become  rife  among  the  blacks.  A 
white  farmer  in  the  vicinity  of  Chatham,  manifested  in 
conversation  a  great  di'^'  ke  of  the  colored  residents. 
His  main  objection  to  them  seemed  to  be,  that,  on  one 
occasion,  as  somebody  had  told  him,  four  or  five  of  them 
kept  the  side-waik,  whereby  a  white  woman  was  obliged 
to  step  off,  —  "that's  the  way  'tis  with 'em,  —  they'll 
get  so  sauci/,  by  and  by,  that  there  '11  be  a  rebellion." 
On  mentioning  this  circumstance  to  a  colored  man,  he 
answered,  "  I  have  had  to  step  off  fifty  times  for  impu- 
dent white  fellows, —  but  I  do  not  blame  all  the  whites 
for  it :  but  if  a  colored  man  does  any  thing  out  of  the 
way,  his  fault  is  tacked  to  the  whole  of  us."  And  this 
j.",  too  much  the  case. 

In  another  part  of  Canada,  a  white  man  expressed 
lively  fears  that  the  negroes  would  yet  become  "  saucy." 
He  explained  this  term  as  api/licable  to  "language 
which  would  be  well  enough  from  a  white  man,  but 
out  of  the  way  from  a  negro,  —  because  a  man  won't 
take  from  one  of  them,  what  h  3  would  from  a  white 
man."  "  And  why  should  he  not  ?  "  "  Why  —  he 
wonH."  '  > 

In  1832,  there  were  in  Chatham,  but  two  or  three 
shops,  and  a  few  houses.  The  oldest  deed  on  record  is 
dated  1801.  In  1837,  two  steamboats  commenced  ply- 
ing to  Detroit,  one  occasionally  extending  its  trips  to 
Buffalo.  'J  he  facilities  thus  afforded  to  trade,  proved 
highly  conducive  to  the  prosperity  of  the  town:  but 
Chiitham  "took  its  great  start"  in  1852,  while  the 
Great  Western  Railway  was  constructing.  Colored 
people  began  to  come  in  at  the  first  settlement  of  the 
t-own  :  at  pi*ese»it  they  are  increasing  in  a  greater  ratio 
than  the  wiiites.     They  maintain   separate  churches, 


M^iMik'-''^ 


236 


THE  refuoeb;  or  a 


£^v;«/.:<k.,Ul 


\\ 


and  attend  a  separate  public  schooL  This  the  writer 
visited,  and  found  fifty  pupils  of  both  sexes  in  attend- 
ance under  a  colored  teacher.  A  private  school  is 
taught  by  Mr.  Alfred  Whipper,  a  colored  man.  This 
school  appeared  to  be  in  very  good  condition :  fifty-* 
eight  colored  pupils  of  both  sexes  were  present. 

It  was  in  Chatham,  that  the  writer  first  heard  of  the 
Associations  called  True  Bands.  A  True  Band  had 
just  been  formed  here,  enrolling  at  first  three  hundred 
and  seventy-five  members,  and  it  was  continually  re- 
ceiving accessions  <  if  numbers.  On  inquiry,  the  follow- 
ing was  furnished  as  an  answer  to  the  question.,  what 
is  meant  by  a  True  Band  ?  , 

A  True  Band  is  con.posed  of  colored  persons  of  both 
sexes,  associated  for  their  own  improvement.  Its  ob- 
jects are  manifold  :  mainly  these :  —  the  members  are 
to  take  a  general  interest  in  each  other's  welfare ;  to 
pursue  such  plans  and  objects  as  may  bs  for  their  mu- 
tual advantage ;  to  improve  all  schools,  and  to  induce 
their  race  to  send  their  children  into  the  schools ;  to  break 
down  all  prejudice  ;  to  bring  all  churches  as  far  as  pos- 
sible into  one  body,  and  not  let  minor  differences  divide 
them;  to  prevent  litigation  by  referring  all  disputes 
among  themselves  to  a  committee ;  to  stop  the  begging 
system  entirely;  (that  is,  going  to  the  United  States, 
and  there  by  representing  that  the  fugitives  are  starving 
and  suffering,  raising  large  sums  of  money,  of  which 
the  fugitives  never  receive  the  benefit,  —  misrepresent* 
ing  the  character  of  the  fugitives  for  industry,  and  un- 
derrating the  advance  of  the  country,  which  supplies 
abtmdant  work  for  all  at  fair  wages ;)  to  raise  such 
funds  among  themselves  as  may  be  necessary  for  the 
poor,  the  sick,  and  the  destitute  fugitive  newly  arrived ; 
and  to  prepare  themselves  ultimately  to  bear  their  due 
weight  of  political  power. 


NORTH'-SIDB  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


237 


to 


The  firt't  True  Band  was  oiganized  in  Maiden,  in 
September,  1854.  It  consists  of  six  hundred  members. 
It  is  represented  as  having  thus  far  fulfilled  its  objects 
admirably.  Since  its  organization,  no  action  at  law 
has  been  brought  by  one  member  against  another :  their 
difterences  being  arranged  by  a  committee  of  arbitra- 
tion. A  small  monthly  payment  is  mad«  by  the  mem- 
bers. The  receipts  have  enabled  them  to  meet  all  cases 
of  destitution,  and  leave  a  surplus  in  the  treasury.  In 
all  other  places  where  the  bands  have  been  organized, 
the  same  good  resalts,  as  I  was  creditably  informed, 
have  followed  as  in  Maiden:  this  showing  that  the 
colored  population  possess  the  means  and  the  will, 
when  acting  in  concert,  to  take  care  of  themselves  and 
of  the  strangers  as  they  arrive.  There  are  now  four- 
teen Tru  J  Bands  organized  in  various  sections  of  Can- 
ada West. 

"What  in  the  ab'^ve  sketch  of  the  bands  is  character- 
ized as  "  the  begging  system,"  meets  the  almost  univer- 
sal reprobation  of  the  colored  people  of  Canada.  Many 
of  them  express  themselves  with  indignation  against  it: 
"  We  have  heard  that  thousands  of  dollars  have  been 
raised  for  us  in  the  United  States,  but  we  never  received 
any  of  it ;  a  great  deal  of  clothing,  but  it  never  reached 
Ufc.  Not  that  we  want  the  money  or  the  clothing ;  we 
can  support  ourselves :  but  w^e  do  n't  want  others  beg- 
ging over  our  backs :  representing  us  as  starving  and 
freezing  through  our  own  laziness  and  vice,  and  thus 
injuring  our  character  while  they  pretend  to  befriend 
us, —  meanwhile,  subserving  nobody's  interest  but  their 
own.  What  cases  of  suffering  occur,  can  be  taken  care 
of  here."  Some  expressed  a  wish  that  those  who  were 
disposed  to  give  money,  should  give  it  to  the  fugitive 
on  his  way,  or  use  it  to  relieve  those  who  suffer  from 


23a 


THE  kefuoee;  oif  a 


\\ 


having  assisted  fugitives.  One  case  was  named  to  me 
of 'a  man  who  raised  a  sum  of  money  in  the  United 
States  for  some  imaginary  persons,  whom  he  called 
Buffering,  starving  fugitives,  and  who,  on  his  return, 
erected  for  himself  a  fine  dwelling-house.  By  and  by, 
wanting  a  fence  about  his  premises,  he  again  raised  a 
sum  of  money  for  some  more  miserable  fugitives,  and, 
soon  after,  his  grounds  were  duly  fenced  in.  Many 
similar  stories  are  in  circulation.  What  part  of  them 
is  true,  and  liuw  much  is  scandal,  it  may  be  difficult 
to  determine :  but  every  one  at  all  acquainted  with  the 
present  status  of  Upper  Canada,  knows  that  any  man 
there,  able  to  labor,  can  readily  find  work,  and  get  h^s 
pay  for  it  when  it  is  done.  The  cases  of  suffering  an'd 
destitution  occasioned  by  sickness  and  improvidence, 
can  be  best  relieved  by  local  institutions.  The  annual 
report  of  "  The  Toronto  Ladies'  Association  for  the 
relief  of  destitute  Colored  Fugitives  "  for  1853  - 1855, 
states,  "  During  the  past  inclement  winter,  much  suf- 
fering was  alleviated,  and  many  cases  of  extreme  hard- 
ship prevented.  Throughout  the  year,  the  committee 
continued  to  observe  the  practice  of  appointing  weekly 
visitors  to  examine  into  the  truth  of  every  statement 
made  by  applicants  for  aid.  In  this  way  between  two 
and  three  hundred  cases  have  been  attended  to,  each 
receiving  more  or  less,  according  to  their  circumstances." 
How  much  money  was  disbursed  during  thd  year  is 
not  stated :  the  amount  of  subscriptions  and  donations 
for  the  year  was  a  little  more  than  one  hundred  and 
sixty  pounds.  Of  this  society,  Mrs.  Arnold  is  presi- 
dent; Mrs.  Willis  treasurer,  and  Mrs.  Henning  corre- 
sponding secretary. 

Tiis  Rev.  Hiram  Wilson  succeeded  a  few  years  since, 
in  organizing  in  St.  Catharines,  a  "Refugee  Slaves* 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


239 


Friend  Society,"  which  embraces  many  of  the  most 
respectable  citizens  of  the  place.  If  these  and  similar 
well-managed  associations,  which  practise  a  judicious 
system  of  expenditure,  see  fit  to  appeal  to  friends  of  the 
fugitives  in  the  United  States,  there  can  be  no  doubt 
of  a  suitable  response. 

The  opinions  of  a  portion  of  the  fugitives  themselves 
on  the  subject  of  charities  in  their  behalf  will  be  found 
among  the  narratives  which  follow. 


■\ 


>» 


J.  C.  BROWN. 

I  was  born  in  Frederick  county,  Va.     My  father  was 
a  white  man ;  my  mother  a  mixed  blood.     She   was 

given  away  by  a  man  named  N to  a  man  named 

B ,  so  that  she  could  not  appear  at  a  court  against 

N.  on  a  suit  for  her  freedom  and  her  three  children's, 
B.  took  her  to  Kentucky :  therefore,  myself  and  brother 
and  sister  remained  slaves  with  N.  He  in  a  short  time 
removed  to  Kentucky.  At  fifteen,  I  was  hired  to  Capt. 
George  Smith,  who  volunteered  to  go  to  Tippecanoe. 
I  was  fifer  in  his  company.  The  freedom  of  myself, 
Moses,  and  some  others  was  promised  us  on  our  return. 
But  the  last  time  I  saw  Moses,  he  was  bowed  down  in 
hellish  slavery  in  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  and  I  had  the 
misfortune  to  have  to  pay  N.  eighteen  hundred  dollars 
for  my  freedom  —  my  step-father  and  mother  hii|p^ 
my  time  for  six  years.  Neal  was  captain  of  the  Silver 
Greys,  who  did  not  go  to  war,  being  over  forty-five,  — 
thev  reoorted  whether  anv  'necroes  were  disaffected, 
and  strong  suspicion  fell  on  me  —  brt  it  was  false.     At 


240 


THB  HEFIJGES;  OR  A 


\ 


that  time  there  were  many  colored  people  joined  in  a 
conspiracy  to  get  their  freedom,  and  wore  as  a  maric,  a 
plait  in  the  hair  over  the  left  eye.  This  was  discovered, 
—  many  were  whipped,  and  had  the  plait  cut  off.  The 
conspiracy  extended  over  three  hundred  miles,  from 
Maysville  to  Henderson. 

A  free  colored  man  named  Freeribbon,  who  lived 
four  miles  from  Louisville,  was  suspected  as  the  author 
of  this  conspiracy.  F.,  his  wife  and  daughter  kept  an 
inn,  and  he  had  a  blacksmith's  shop  to  accommodate 
with  farriery  those  who  stopped  with  him.  They 
searched  the  shop,  —  under  it  they  found  old  guns, 
butcher-knives,  and  other  .  plements  for  killing.  H^ 
was  put  in  jail  and  condemned  to  be  hung,  —  but  hav- 
ing many  friends,  he  was  reprieved  on  condition  that 
he  should  be  sent  to  some  Spanish  mine,  and  there 
remain  the  rest  of  his  days.  He  was  sent  to  th  lines. 
After  twenty  years,  a  white  man  in  the  neighborhood 
committed  murder.  Under  the  gallows  he  confessed 
that  he  had  been  employed  by  three  near  neighbors  of 
Freeribbon,  and  that  they  paid  him  for  putting  the  im- 
plements under  F.'s  floor.  One  of  the  tliree  was  a  con- 
gressman, one  a  colonel,  one  a  gentleman.  In  conse- 
quence of  their  crime,  F.  had  been  sent  off,  and  his  fine 
farm  confiscated.  When  this  was  made  known,  the 
court  sent  for  Freeribbon.  He  came  back,  and  1  saw 
him  —  a  heart-broken  man.  The  colonel  afterward 
poisoned  himself.         ■' 

After  I  became  a  free  man,  I  carried  on  the  mason 
bilpaess  in  Bardstown,  Shelbyville,  and  Louisville. 
My  misfortunes  now  began.  I  had  been  used  well  as 
a  slave,  for  my  mistress  was  my  aunt.  I  was  an  ob- 
ject of  jealousy  to  the  white  mechanics,  because  I  was 
more  successful  in  getting  jobs.     They  threatened  me, 


KORTII-SIDE   VIEW   OP    SLAVERY. 


241 


unless  I  left  the  neighborhood,  to  break  every  bone  in 
my  body.     1  wbh  then  finishing  a  hirge  building  for 

Capt.  Nelson.     He  said  he  would  see  M ,  leader  of 

my  enemies,  uiid  stop  their  proceedings:  but  M— 
still  continued  his  threats.  About  the  same  time,  I 
saw  a  free  colored  man  whipped.  This  grieved  and 
alarmed  me.  I  burst  into  tears ;  I  went  to  my  mother 
and  told  her  I  would  leave  a  slave  country  and  go  to  a 
free  country,  I  had  been  married  about  two  years. 
In  1819,  under  the  advice  of  Stratford  Gowen  and 
Benjamin  Lundy,  I  was  sent  to  Texas  to  find  shelter 
and  suitable  situations  for  free  people  of  color.  Meet- 
ing there  with  Mr.  Black  or  Blake,  then  a  member  of  the 
council  of  that  colonv,  he  told  me  that  Te  ^as  was  to  be 
a  great  cotton  and  sugar-growing  coui^Liy,  and  would 
one  day  be  annexed  to  the  Unit^^  ^  States.  He  =5aid  a 
majority  of  the  council  were  op  ios<  d  to  having  a  free 
colored  settlement  in  Texas,  and  it  would  be  useless 
for  me  to  look  further.  I  then  returned  to  Louisville, 
and  in  a  short  time  removed  with  my  family  to  Cincin- 
nati. 

At  this  time,  a  white  man  of  a  Quaker  family,  named 
Hethers,  was  teaching  colored  children  in  Louisville. 
The  slaveholders  being  very  suspicious  of  him,  hired  a 
colored  barber  named  Tillman,  a  slave,  to  get  Hethers 
into  his  shop  and  ask  (irr.  to  write  a  free  paper.     Capt. 

T G and  S— —  B concealed  themselves 

under  the  counter  in  Tillman's  shop.  Hethers  came  in, 
and  the  colored  man  asked  him  his  charge  for  writing  a 
free  paper  to  come  to  Canada.  He  told  him,  if  he  wfis 
to  write  one,  he  would  not  charge  him  any  thing. 
Tillman  said,  "  No  —  you  must  have  twenty  dollars," — 
as  he  had  been  instructed.  He  asked  Hethers  if  he 
thought  the  papers  would  pass  him  good  to  Canada. 

21 


mill 


242 


THE  REFUGEE ;  OR  A 


\' 


r,M      1 


Hethers  told  him  "  Yes,  but  he  had  better  call  on  J.  C. 
Brown,  in  Cincinnati,  who  was,  he  understood,  a  very 
clever  man,  and  could  give  him  instructions."  So  I 
got  into  a  scrape  without  knowing  it. 

It  was  a  few  days  after  that,  I  went  to  Louisville  to 
settle  up  some  business.  Hethers  had  been  seized  by 
the  two  white  men  and  was  now  in  jail.  The  night  I 
get  down,  a  man  named  Shaw  came  to  me,  and  told 
me  that  some  gentlemen  wanted  to  see  me  in  Dr.  Tal- 
bot's shop.     I  went  there ;  M ,  my  old  enemy  was 

there.  He  asked  me  who  raised  me?  "'Squire  Neal 
of  Shelby."  "  You  are  a  sample  of  some  of  his  rais- 
ing. Do  you  know  what  we  sent  for  you  for  ?  "  "  I 
do  not."  He  then  raised  an  oil  cloth,  and  showed 
pistols,  bowie-knives,  ropes,  and  cow-hides.  Said  he, 
"  this  is  what  we  sent  for  you  for ;  and  I  '11  tell  you 
what  you  are  to  do.  To-morrow  morning  at  10  o'clock, 
you  are  to  go  to  court,  where  Hethers  is  to  be  tried,  and 
testify  that  Hethers  is  writing  free  passes  for  our  nig- 
gers  to  be  taken  to  you,  and  for  you  to  forward  to  Can- 
ada." I  denied  that  it  was  so,  and  told  them  I  didn't 
know  Hethers.  "  Take  me  to  the  jail  and  let  Hethers 
see  me,  and  if  he  says  he  ever  saw  me  or  knew  me, 

turn  the  key  upon  me  and  give  me  a  trial."     M was 

then  a  Methodist  preacher,  and  is  yet.  He  said,  "  Hear 
him, —  he  wants  to  be  tried  like  a  white  man!  but  we 
have  a  trial  for  you  in  Bullock's  woods."  He  then  told 
me  if  I  failed  to  appear  and  testify  as  they  said,  I 
should  be  taken  to  the  woods  at  night,  then  tied  up  and 
receive  nine  hundred  lashes :  one  hundred  apiece  from 

nine  of  them.     They  consulted  Dr.  T ,  as  to  whether 

1  could  take  the  nine  hundred  blows  and  live.  He  felt 
of  my  body  and  said  I  was  a  man  of  great  muscle,  — 
he  told  them  where  to  chalk  me  about  the  shoulders, 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


343 


J.  a 

very 
So  I 

He  to 

?,d  by 

ightl 

a  told 

.  Tal- 

y  was 

i  Neal 

s  rais- 
»     u  J 

how^d 
lid  he, 
ell  you 
3'clock, 
ed,  and 
ur  nig' 
[0  Can- 
[  didn't 
Hethers 
lew  me, 
—  was 
«  Hear 
but  we 
hen  told 
said,  I 
up  and 
;ce  from 
whether 
He  felt 
luacle,  — 
boulders, 


and  so  as  to  avoid  the  kidneys.  I  said  to  them,  "  Gen- 
tlemen, I  have  a  wife  and  two  children,  and  of  what 
use  can  I  be  to  take  care  of  them  after  you  have  given 

me  nine  hundred  lashes  ?  "     M said,  "  That 's  their 

look-out,  not  ours."  They  dismissed  me  with  the  in- 
junction that  I  should  attend  the  coi^rt.  I  did  not 
attend  it,  believing  that  I  had  many  fiieiids  in  Louis- 
ville who  would  not  let  them  use  me  so. 

Just  after  dark,  on  the  evening  after  the  court,  I  was 
at  my  mother-in-law's  with  my  family,  and  was  in- 
vited to  stop  to  supper.  Knowing  that  I  drank  water, 
the  old  lady  was  going  to  the  pump,  when  she  met  a 
mob  of  white  men  coming.  One  of  them  told  her  to 
run  to  the  house  and  tell  me  to  flee  for  my  life,  or  my 
life  would  be  taken.  She  fainted  and  fell.  While  I 
sat  at  the  table,  fearing  that  all  was  not  right,  I  came 
down  to  the  foot  of  the  stairs,  and  there  saw  three  or 
four  white-hatted  gentlemen  looking  up  the  stairs,  and 
many  others  behind  them.  I  walked  out  through  them 
bareheaded  —  they  did  not  recognize  me  —  I  heard 
them  say,  "  Hush !  hush ! "  to  each  other  as  I  passed 
through  the  crowd.  I  got  to  a  steamboat  landing, 
where  were  several  boats  going  next  day,  and  went  on 
board  a  Pittsburg  boat  bound  to  Cincinnati.  I  told 
my  situation  to  a  man,  who  then  locked  me  up  in  a 
state-room.  Next  morning,  the  slaveholders  went 
aboard  all  the  boats  and  ordered  them  not  to  take  me 
out  of  the  city.  We  left  next  morning  at  9  o'clock, 
Capt.  Y not  knowing  that  I  was  on  board. 

After  we  got  twelve  miles  from  Louisville,  they  rung 
the  bell  for  passengers  to  pay  their  fare.  Not  v/ishing 
any  charge  against  the  man  who  had  concealed  me,  I 
had  come  out  on  deck.  The  clerk  asked  ray  name,-='I 
told  him  "  J.  C.  Brown."    He  would  n't  take  my  money, 


i 

i\ 


i  \ 


• 


244 


THE  befugee;  or  a 


but  went  for  the  captain.  He  came  and  said,  "  I  can 
get  more  money  by  running  back  to  Louisville,  than  I 
can  by  going  to  Pittsburg."  I  told  him  he  had  better 
do  it  He  said,  "  No  insolence ! "  and  then  told  a  young 
man,  a  deck  hand,  to  "  camp  me."  That  fellow's  back 
soon  felt  the  deck,  and  I  made  for  the  captain ;  he  rang 
the  bell,  and  called  help,  who  seized  me,  and  chained 
me  to  the  capstan-bar,  where  I  was  kept  nearly  all  the 
distance  to  Cincinnati.  I  got  a  warrant  for  false  im- 
]»risonment  against  Capt.  Y.  It  was  to  be  served  by 
one  Doty,  but  he  always  pretended  he  never  could  catch 
him.  ,  I  got  no  recompense  nor  justice  for  that  treat- 
ment. \ 

Three  years  after  this  affair,  the  law  of  1804,  knoWn 
as  the  Ohio  black  law,  was  revived  in  that  State,  and 
enforced.  By  this  law,  every  colored  man  was  to  give 
bonds  in  $500  not  to  become  a  town  charge,  and  to 
find  bonds  also  for  his  heirs.  No  one  could  employ  a 
colored  man  or  colored  woman  to  do  any  kind  of  labor, 
under  penalty  of  $100.  There  were  then  about  3,000 
colored  people  there  —  by  this  law  they  were  thrown 
out  of  employment.  I  was  then  clearing  $600  a  year, 
and  refused  to  give  bonds.  The  colored  people  had  a 
meeting,  and  talked  about  a  court  of  appeals  to  test  the 
law.  Some  talked  of  going  to  Texas,  —  we  knew  not 
what  to  do  :  we  were  sore  perplexed.  I  spoke  to  them 
of  Canada,  and  we  formed  a  Colonization  Society,  of 
which  I  was  President.  I  wrote  for  the  Board  to  Sir 
John  Colborne,  at  Little  York,  now  Toronto,  to  know  if 
we  could  find  in  Canada  an  asylum  for  ourselves,  our 
wives,  and  children.  Two  members  of  the  Board  went 
with  the  letter  to  Toronto,  and  were  well  received  by 
Sir  John.  He  wrote  us  to  remove  into  Canada  with 
our  wives  and  children,  if  we  chose  to  do  so ;  and  that 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW  OP   SLAVERY. 


245 


I  can 
ban  I 

better 
roung 

back 
',  rang 
lained 
ill  the 
je  im- 
ed  by 

catch 

treat- 

known 
te,  and 
;o  give 
and  to 
iploy  a 
I  labor, 
it  3,000 
thrown 
a  year, 
had  a 
test  the 
ew  not 
to  them 
iiety,  of 
I  to  Sir 
know  if 
ives,  our 
ird  went 
»ived  by 

A^     nri4-Vl 

ind  that 


so  long  as  we  remained  true  and  loyal  subjects,  we 
should  have  every  privilege  extended  to  us  that  was 
enjoyed  by  any  of  her  majesty's  subjects,  no  distinction 
being  made  on  account  of  color.  I  have  his  letter  now 
in  my  possession  —  his  memorable  words.  Mr.  Ham- 
monds, our  friend,  editor  of  a  daily  paper  in  Cincinnati, 
published  the  letter  at  my  request.  The  publication 
made  an  excitement  in  the  corporation  of  Cincinnati. 
Two  or  three  of  us,  including  myself,  were  sent  for  by 
the  city  government,  next  day.  The  reason  was,  as 
Mr.  Hotchkiss  said,  that  I,  as  one  of  the  leading  spirits, 
was  doing  a  great  deal  of  mischief;  for  every  one  that 
I  took  off  to  Canada  was  a  sword  drawn  against  the 
United  States.  At  this  time  Cincinnati  was  full  of 
women,  without  husbands,  and  their  children.  These 
were  sent  there  by  planters  from  Louisiana  and  Missis- 
sippi, and  some  from  Tennessee,  who  had  now  got  for- 
tunes, and  had  found  that  white  women  could  live  in 
those  States.  In  consequence,  they  had  sent  their 
slave-wives  and  children  to  Cincinnati,  and  set  them 
free.  They  had  begun  to  come  about  the  close  of  the 
last  war.  Cincinnati  was  the  great  point  for  them.  I 
was  agent  of  a  man  who  had  eighteen  of  thesf;  headless 
families  in  one  house.  I  asked  the  Mayor,  "  Now  that 
they  have  deprived  us  of  work,  who  is  to  go  begging 
for  these  people,  to  keep  them  alive  ?  "  He  said  they 
were  taking  steps  to  have  the  law  repealed,  and  wished 
me  to  stay  any  action  about  sending  people  to  Canadt*. 
I  paid  no  attention  to  what  he  told  me,  and  sent 
three  wagon  loads  out  to  Sandusky  next  day.  In  three 
or  four  weeks  I  and  my  family  left  —  came  to  Sandusky 
—  thence  I  took  a  boat,  the  "  Gov.  Cass,"  and  went  to 
Little  York,  where  I  entered  into  a  contract  with  the 
Canada  Company,  for  a  township  of  land,  agreeing  to 

21* 


tr. 


246 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


!    ,1     L  '( 


!  1 


pay  $6,000  a  year,  for  ten  years.  It  was  the  township 
of  Biddulph.  The  black  law  had  now  become  inoper- 
ative in  Cincinnati,  and  the  colored  people  wrote  me, 
that  they  could  now  walk  without  being  pushed  off  the 
side-walks,  were  well  used,  and  were  living  in  clover. 
Of  2,700  who  were  to  have  come,  only  460  came  out. 
They  settled  promiscuously  in  the  province,  buying  land 
here  and  there,  and  getting  work.  Only  five  or  six  fam- 
ilies of  them  settled  in  Biddulph.  Three  weeks  after 
they  settled,  fifteen  families  from  Boston,  Mass,,  met 
them  there,  and  settled  there,  where  they  remain.  We 
only  paid  for  1,220  acres,  which  was  divided,  from  25 
to  50  acres  to  a  family.  Numbers,  who  came  aften* 
ward,  had  to  leave  for  other  places.  These  families  in 
Biddulph  are  now  independent.  Their  lands  now  will 
sell  at  forty  to  fifty  dollars  an  acre :  it  cost  one  dollar 
and  fifty  cents.  J.  settled  in  Toronto,  where  I  could 
have  some  means  of  making  myself  useful  for  them 
among  the  white  people,  and  where  my  trade  was 
good.  * 

My  wife  became  dissatisfied,  and  1  removed  with  her 
and  my  daughter,  —  my  son  having  died,  —  to  Cincin- 
nati, where  I  remained  thirteen  months.  I  went  on  to 
Louisville,  to  see  my  old  mother.  This  was  some  six 
or  seven  years  from  the  M —  •  scrape.  I  saw  my  old 
mother,  and  just  as  I  was  taking  a  seat  at  the  table,  an 
o£lcer  popped  into  the  room,  shook  hands  with  me,  and 
said  he  wanted  to  speak  with  me.  I  went  into  another 
room  with  him  —  he  put  his  hand  on  my  shoulder,  and 
said,  "  You  are  my  prisoner."  I  was  put  in  jail,  charged 
with  running  off  large  quantities  of  slaves :  my  accuser, 
Mr.  Gr D ,  said  I  had  crossed  the  river  at  Utica, 


V^uaXiCBtUii,  and 


Madison,  with  large  drovea  of  slaves. 


The  third  day  I  wrote  an  advertisement  for  Mr.  Penn's 


NORTH-SIDB  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


247 


paper,  offering  $100  reward  for  any  credible  evidence 
of  my  having  done  as  was  alleged.  The  court  released 
me  on  $2,500  bail :  two  persons  recognizee^  in  $1,000 
each,  and  I  was  taken  for  the  $500.  *  On  the  evening 
of  the  day  I  gave  the  bonds,  three  men  came  out  at- me, 
and  drcv  pistols,  which  they  fired  at  the  ground  about 
my  feet :  this,  my  friends  supposed,  was  to  frighten  me, 
and  induce  me  to  run  ofl',  so  that  my  securities  might 
forfeit  their  bonds.  The  Grand-Jury  failed  to  find  a 
bill,  and  I  was  discharged. 

I  returned  to  Cincinnati.    My  wife  had  seen  so  much 
of  my  persecution,  that  she  was  more  anxious  to  return 
to  Canada  than  she  had  been  to  leave  it.     We  returned 
to  Toronto,  and  I  was  a  gunner  there  in  the  Patriot 
war.     I  removed  to  Dawn,  and  was  elected  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  school  in  that  place.     From  Dawn  I 
came  to  Chatham  about  1849.     Chatham  was  then  a 
little  village  of  Irame  buildings  and  log  cabins.     There 
were  theu  no  masons,  bricklayers,  or  plasterers  among 
the  colored  men.     I  went  for  some,  and  got  them  here, 
and  we  are  now  able  to  build  a  house  from  the  stump. 
"We  can  cut  the   timber   and   make  the  brick.     The 
greater  part  of  the  bricklaying  and  plastering  is  in  the 
hands   of   the    colored    mechanics.      There    are    four 
churches  of  colored  people  which  are  well  filled.     We 
have  separate  schools  whir  "■  are  tolerably  well  attended, 
--the   Sunday   school  is   very   numerously   attended. 
There  are  three  charitable  societies  of  men,  and  two  of 
women,  which  do  much  good,  relieving  the  wants  of 
the  sick  ..ad  destitute.     There  is  a  great  deal  of  prop- 
erty owned  here  by     ic  colored  peoj's    their  number 
has  doubled  in   two  years,  mainly   i*y  immigration, 
which  continues  still  —  especially  of  fugitive    slaves,  — 
Bometimes  twenty  in  one  day.     Many  agcucs  have 


I "  ""P^t^^ 

-    248    «'^'" 


V   ( 


THE  refuqee;  or  a 


\ 


7*^4 


come  here,  nominally  to  assist  the  fugitives,  but  some 
of  them  have  not  been  so  honest  as  one  could  wish. 
They  collected  money,  but  the  fngitives  did  not  get  it. 
However,  what  money  the  fugitives  have  received,  has 
been  an  injury,  rather  than  a  beneHi  i  have  seeij  cases 
where  the  money  would  have  d<:)'}e  gcf»dj  if  rigi:  av  dis- 
tributed. -;,  '   -  ^ 

Our  children  groaing  up  in  ^wiiis  country,  and  not 
having  the  I'e  ir  of  any  white  man,  and  being  taught  to 
read  and  write,  will  grov/  up  entirely  dlfl'  renv,  from 
vhei''  fathers,  —  of  more  bf-nefifc  to  themselves,  of  more 
benefit  to  the  governmentj  and  will  be  u.u  re  able  to  set 
gi»od  tTxamples  to  the  rising  generation.  Intelligent  par- 
eiw^  will  raise  up  intelligent  children.  » 

Slavery  disarms  a  man  of  virtue, —  of  every  thing: 
ft  prevents  his  being  a  man.  Anticipation  is  what  we 
live  for,  —  it  makes  us  anxious  to  improve  ourselves 
and  our  children ;  but  the  slave  anticipates  nothing,  but 
the  setting  of  the  sun,  or  the  passage  of  some  law  to 
curtail  what  little  of  privilege  he  possesses.  The  effects 
of  slavery  are  perceptible  here  in  our  courts.  I  have 
seen  fugitives,  brought  as  witnesses,  afraid  to  testify 
against  a  white  man.  This  is  a  part  of  the  horrid 
effects  of  slavery.  The  younger  ones  are  better  than 
this.  They  grow  up  without  slavish  fear :  they  know 
nothing  about  it. 


PHILIP  YOFNGER. 

I  served  in  slavery  fifty -fiv        irs,  and  am  now  nearly 
^   snty-two  years  old,    T  w      ^orn  in  Virginia,  went,  at 
to  Tennessee;  at    w:  ve,  to  Alabama:  was,  all 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


349 


T 


the  time,  body  servant  of  a  military  man.  My  treat- 
ment was  various,  —  sometimes  rough,  —  sometimes 
good.  Many  awful  scenes  I  have  seen  while  moving 
about.  I  have  had  to  put  chains  on  men,  myself,  to  go 
into  a  chain  gang :  I  have  seen  men  whipped  to  death, 
—  have  seen  them  die.  I  have  ridden  hundreds  of 
miles  in  Alabama,  and  have  heard  the  whip  going,  all 
along  from  farm  to  farm,  while  they  were  weighing  out 
cotton. 

In  Alabama,  the  patrols  go  out  in  companies  at 
about  dark,  and  ride  nearly  all  night.  If  they  meet  a 
colored  man  without  a  pass,  it  i&  thirty-nine  lashes ;  but 
they  do  n't  stop  for  the  law,  and  if  they  tie  a  man  up, 
he  is  very  well  off  if  he  gets  only  two  hundred.  If  there 
is  a  party  assembled  at  the  quarters,  they  rush  in  half 
drunk,  and  thrash  round  with  their  sticks,  perhaps  be- 
fore they  look  at  a  pass,  —  all  must  be  whipped  unless 
they  rush  out :  I  can't  paint  it  so  bad  as  't  is.  Some- 
times a  stout  man  will  fight  his  way  through. 

As  a  general  thing  the  treatment  on  the  plantations 
in  Alabama  is  very  hard.  Once  in  a  while  a  man  is 
kind,  as  kindness  is  out  there,  and  then  he  is  hated  by 
all  the  other  masters.  They  say  "  his  niggers  spoil  our 
niggers."  These  servants  are  not  allowed  on  the  other 
plantations  at  all,  —  if  caught  there,  they  will  put  as 
much  on  them  as  they  can  bear.  I  have  as  good  a 
chance  to  know  as  any  man  there,  —  I  have  travelled 
there  on  the  plantations,  —  I  was  there  before  the  coun- 
try was  opened,  —  at  the  war,* —  and  have  seen  it  grow 
up  by  the  colored  man's  labor.  I  have  seen  miles  of 
fences  around  plantations,  where  I  had  been  through 
woods  with  the  surveyors.  Escape  from  Alabama  is 
almost !  .ipossible,  —  if  a  man  escapess  it  is  by  the  skin 


W^^ 


w 


250 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


(tp-^ 


ii 


.ill:';::; 
It!:  i:.:;:;, 


ftl'li/ 


illlii 


w 


There  was  a  free  man  in  Huntsville  —  a  barber,-;— 
whose  wife  —  a  free  woman  —  was  taken  by  a  patrol, 
as  she  was  walking  out  at  dark,  and  put  in  jail,  just  to 
disgrace  her,  —  as  she  was  in  a  little  better  standing 
than  the  patrol  was.  Her  husband  grumbled  about  it, 
—  a  rumpus  was  made,  and  people  collected.  It  was 
in  front  of  a  tavern  door.  The  folks  then  called  out, 
"Shoot  the  d — d  nigger!  shoot  him!"  The  patrol 
stabbed  him  with  a  bowie-knife,  and  he  fell  in  the  street. 
He  was  carried  in,  and  a  doctor  dressed  the  wound,  but 
he  was  never  a  sound  man  afterwards. 

I  hired  my  time,  and  made  some  money.  I  bought 
my  wife's  freedom  first,  and  sent  her  away.  I  got  off 
by  skill.     I  have  children  and  grand  children  in  slaveryl 

I  had  rather  starve  to  death  here,  being  a  free  man, 
than  to  have  plenty  in  slavery.  I  cannot  be  a  slave  any 
more,  —  nc  body  could  hold  me  as  a  slave  now,  except 
in  irons.  Old  as  I  am,  I  would  rather  face  the  Rus- 
sian fire,  or  die  at  the  point  of  the  sword,  than  go  into 
slavery. 

We  are  placed  in  different  circumstances  here  —  some 
drag  along,  without  doing  much,  —  some  are  doing  well. 
I  have  a  house ;  I  have  taken  up  fifty  acres  of  land,  and 
have  made  the  payments  as  reqiiired;  I  have  other 
property  besides.  Here  is  Henry  Blue,  worth  twelve 
thousand  dollars ;  Syddles,  worth  a  fortune ;  Lucky, 
worth  a  very  handsome  fortune ;  Ramsay,  a  great  deal 
of  land  and  other  property,  at  least  twelve  thousand 
dollars ;  all  these  were  slaves  at  some  time.  And  there 
ore  many  others  wealthy,  through  their  own  skill  and 
industry. 

Before  I  came  here,  I  resided  in  the  free  States.  I 
came  here  in  consequence  of  the  passage  of  the  Fugi- 
tive Slave  Bill.    It  was  a  hardship  at  first ;  but  I  feel 


\.- 


V 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


351 


better  here  —  more  like  a  man  —  I  know  I  am  —  than 
in  the  States.  I  suffer  from  want  of  education.  1  man- 
age by  skill  and  experience  and  industry  —  but  it  is  as 
if  feeling  my  way  in  the  dark. 


GILBERT  DICKEY. 

I  HAVE  been  in  Canada  but  six  weeks :  am  55  years 
old.  I  was  caised  a  slave  until  35.  I  was  born  in  North 
Carolina,  Guilford  Co.,  where  I  was  the  main  hand  on 
the  farm,  where  we  raised  wheat,  corn,  rye,  etc.,  some 
cotton.  There  were  about  fifteen  slaves  on  the  farm, 
sometimes  more,  sometimes  less.  My  master  has  fre- 
quently said,  that  Gil.  could  carry  on  the  farm  better 
than  he  could :  he  had  told  his  neighbors  that  I  and  his 
wife  could  carry  on  the  farm  as  well,  if  he  were  a  hun- 
dred miles  off.  I  never  had  a  cl  ly's  schooling  in  my 
life  —  went  to  a  Sunday  School  a  few  times,  but  that 
was  cut  off.  I  have  no  learning  but  v  '  -  God  has  put 
into  my  head.  My  master  was  hasty  and  high-tem- 
pered, but  was  always  kind  to  me  owing  to  some  pecu- 
liar circumstances.  He  was  more  kind  than  most  who 
own  servants  in  thac  country,  and  more  so  than  his 
companion.  Some  thought  him  a  hard  man,  but  I 
never  thought  him  so  hard  as  some  I  have  seen.  "When 
he  did  whip,  he  whipped  severe!  ■  ^  ^ell  you;  he  was 
high-strung  when  he  got  up.  i  auppose  there 's  no 
doubt  that  he  and  his  father-in-law — a  severe  old  man 
—  whipped  one  slave  man  to  death.  They  whipped 
him  over  the  head  with  a  loaded  whip,  shamefully.  He 
was  one  of  those  that  could  not  be  whipped.  He  was 
sold  after  the  beating,  and  died  two  months  after.    The 


252 


TBfi  refugee;  or  a 


4    l| 


\» 


flirrule  came  off  the  whip  they  uued,  and  the  whalebone 
bnrftted  out. 

At  nine  years  old,  I  was  bought  into  this  family, 
beirir  •  TitiVTed  to  pay  a  debt  ol  three  hundred  dollars. 
At  tlie  lif ml  a  of  my  master,  I  was  hired  out  sixteen  years, 
until  my  young  master  came  of  age.  I  had  then  made 
up.my  mind  to  buy  my  time  and  was  preparing  to  do  it, 
by  laying  up  my  money  as  I  could  earn  overplus.  I 
have  made  fiftv  d  »!'  .  in  a  winter  by  working  aftei 
9  o'clock  nights  while  buying  my  time.  It  is  hard  work 
ever  since  I  was  seven  years  old,  which  has  broken  me 
down  :  I  have  now  rheumatism,  coughs,  etc.  I  worked 
at  all  kinds  of  work,  —  every  thing  a  man  would  call 
on  me  to  do,  except  stealing,  my  hands  were  ready  to 
do  it.  I  work<  d  at  fencing,  laying  stone  wall,  digging 
wells,  carpentering,  etc.  During  the  sixteen  years,  I 
paid  up  five  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars ;  that  left 
four  hundred  'dollars  to  be  paid,  whirrh  I  borrowed  by 
giving  names.  I  was  then  free,  but  had  to  worK  to 
raise  the  four  hundred  dollars,  which  took  me  nee  y 
two  years.  ' 

I  was  whipped  at  one  time  by  my  old  master,  be- 
cause I  coull  not  work.  It  was  brought  about  by  a 
mean  white  man  who  was  working  in  the  field,  and 
tc^i'  mo' 'er  tha'  I  was  not  sick.  My  master  cursed 
and  swore  very  wicked.  He  did  not  tie  me  up,  but  he 
gave  T^e  a  severe  whipping.  It  did  not  cure  me:  I 
had  to  go  and  try  to  work,  but  could  not  do  much. 

I  have  seen  sixteen  men  chained  abreast  for  market, 
and  driven  f  )m  ihat  place.  I  have  seen  a  woman 
chained  an  *  inr^^^ufFed  in  the  gangs,  leaving  a  child 
only  nine  days  ola  the  child  raised  by  hand,  and  when 
a  woman  nearly  grown,  she  was  sold. 


-J  I-  _r_. 


T 


Alter  tne  oia  man  oieu,  auu  ueiore  i  was  hired  out, 


."i:  W, 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


253 


;u    OUt| 


two  of  til  colored  children  were  sick  —  one  died,  and  I 
watched  with  the  other  by  the  corpse.  On  the  next 
day  evening,  when  we  came  back  from  the  burial  of  the 
child,  ihe  other  was  dying,  and  the  doctor  was  there. 
The  child  died  that  evening.  My  mistress  then  re- 
quested me  to  mend  a  pair  of  shoes  for  her  daughter 
thal^  night.  I  told  h<r  I  would  rather  not,  as  I  had  been 
up  the  night  before,  and  a  corpse  was  in  ihe  house. 
She  flew  into  a  passion,  said  she  would  have  it  done,  or 
her  father  should  whip  me.  1  mended  the  shoes  that 
night,  but  it  made  no  diflerence.  Her  father  came  next 
morning  wiih  some  work-hands,  and  told  me  wi;h  an 
oath,  that  if  he  had  a  knife  he  would  cut  my  d — d 
throai.  I  drew  a  knife  from  my  pocket,  opened  it, 
handed  it  to  him,  opened  my  shirt-collar,  and  told 
him  to  cut  it.  He  pretended  to  do  so,  and  drew  blood 
on  my  throat  —  the  mark  remains.  I  went  away  a 
piece,  then  changed  my  mind  and  came  back.  They 
tied  my  hands,  I  was  so  mad,  I  hardly  k^ew  what  they 
did.  He  gave  me  thirty  blows.  I  told  him  afterwards, 
that  I  had  no  place  appointed  to  die  or  to  be  buried, 
and  I  cared  not  when  it  happened ;  that  I  would  not  be 
whipped  any  more,  and  that  the  first  man  who  struck 
me  I  would  kill.  I  was  never  punished  afterward, 
although  I  was  sometimes  threatened.  If  they  find  a 
man  determined  and  resolute  not  to  be  whipped,  they 
will  sometimes  let  him  alont: :  but  in  other  places,  they 
will  do  it  at  any  rate. 

No  man,  who  has  not  been  ia  slavery,  knows  the  real 
curse  of  it.  A  northern  man  can't  tell  half  how  bad 
it  is. 

When  I  began  to  be  hired  out,  I  felt  more  liberty 
than  on  the  place  —  where  I  had  to  do  whatever  a  man 
where  it  was  never  too  wet,  nor  too  cold,  too 


:  J 

oaiu 


23 


\  i 


.^ 


254 


THE  befuoeb;  or  / 


\ 


hot,  nor  too  dry  —  where  'T  could  not  go  to  the  nes^t 
house,  no  matter  how  near  it  was,  without  u  permit. 

I  lived  in  Indiaiui  for  nine  years  before  I  came  here, 
and  did  well.  I  have  been  doing  business  for  myself 
some  twenty  yrars  :  I  never  considered  that  I  was  doing 
business  for  myself  till  I  got  out  of  debt.  I  was  mak- 
ing money  in  Indiana,  and  had  plenty  of  friends.  I 
liked  there,  all  but  one  thing — slavery  was  there,  as  it 
is  all  over  the  United  States.  One  or  two  days  in  t'le 
year  they  acknowledge  a  colored  person  to  be  a  man  ; 
that  is,  when  he  works  on  the  road,  and  pays  his  tax  ; 
all  the  rest  of  his  time  he  is  a  brute.  I  came  on  pur- 
pose to  come  to  a  country  where  I  could  be  a  free  man, 
and  to  encourage  men  of  my  color  to  take  hold  of  work'; 
to  set  them  a  good  example,  and  to  make  their  con- 
dition here  better,  if  my  assistance  could  do  any  good. 


WILLIAM  J.  ANDERSON. 

I  was  a  slave  from  birth,  until  thirty-two  years  old, 
on  Red  River,  Bayou  Rapide.  I  belonged  to  a  man 
who  kept  me  at  home  until  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
He  was  a  constable,  and  I  was  the  turnkey  some  two 
or  three  years.  After  twenty-one,  I  hired  out  to  work 
on  a  steamboat,  paying  my  master  $25  a  month,  and 
supporting  a  family :  and  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  I  had 
$500.  I  was  steward  and  cook.  One  day,  at  New 
Orleans,  I  heard  the  news  of  my  master's  death.  I  felt 
that  I  had  lost  my  only  friend ;  for  although  a  mean 
man,  he  had  some  good  qualities  —  he  could  not  bear  a 
man  that  drank,  and  yet  he  was  drunk  all  the  time  him- 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


25^ 


self.     On  hearing  his  death,  an  acquaintance  of  ir  niv 
aaid,  "  Now  is  your  time  to  put!^ 

I  packed  some  clothes,  took  my  ^500,  started  for  the 
North,  and  reached  Cincinnati.  I  was  robbed  of  my 
money  on  the  passage.  I  opened  a  shop,  and  did  very 
well  by  cooking  at  the  hotels.  After  four  years,  I  had 
some  words  with  a  man  named  Magee,  who  was  a  run- 
away, who  had  come  barefoot,  and  I  had  given  him 
employment  to  keep  my  grocery.  He  went  down  to 
the  place  where  I  came  from,  and  informed  where  I 
was :  he  was  retaken,  and  held  in  slavery. 

I  married  in  Ripley,  Ohio.  One  day  I  heard  a  gen- 
tleman in  Cincinnati  talking  to  his  brother  about  buy- 
ing "  niggers "  and  horses :  o\\(  of  them  said,  "  Old 
Atwood  is  dead."  I  asked  my  wife  if  her  name  really 
was  Atwood.  She  applied  to  the  men,  and  found  that 
Atwood  had  left  her  mother  and  the  balance  of  the  ser- 
vants free  —  say  ten  —  and  left  $8,000  to  each  of  them. 
Part  of  this  I  invested  in  Ohio,  and  a  part  I  brought 
with  us  to  Canada.  Her  father  was  her  master,  and 
had  brought  her  to  Ohio  when  she  was  six  years  old. 

1  had  a  brother  named  Charles,  who  carried  a  basket 
of  eggs  on  board  a  boat  named  Red  River,  that  ran  up 
Red  River.     "When  he  came  off,  he  did  not  get  the 

money  for  the  eggs,  as  was  expected  by  Mr.  T- ,  a 

Frenchman,  who  had  hired  him.  He  belonged  to  my 
master.  When  he  went  back,  the  Frenchman  jumped 
on  him,  and  beat  him  severely.  Charles,  however, 
struck  the  Frenchman.  My  master  said,  "  Charles  will 
certainly  be  hung  for  striking  a  white  man :  so  you  fix 
four  stakes,  and  I  '11  whip  him."  I  drove  the  four  stakes 
into  the  ground  for  my  brother :  he  was  fourteen,  and  I 
thirteen  years  old.  Master  asked  me  if  the  stakes  were 
ready.      Said  I,  "  Charles,  before  I'd  be  whipped  for 


\W, 


ill 


pi^^'^h 


256 


THE  KEFUOEE:  OB  A 


\ 


that  Frenchman,  I  'd  cut  my  throat."  He  did  cut  his 
throat,  and  ran  into  the  river,  where  he  beat  off  five  men 
who  tried  to  get.  him  out.  Then  he  came  out  himself, 
and  was  clear  —  was  not  whipped.  In  a  few  weeks  he 
got  well :  he  meant  to  kill  himself. 

I  have  seen  many  whipped  till  they  could  not  stand 

up.     S P.  S wiiipped  a  man  in  Red  River  jail 

while  I  was  turnkey,  until  he  burst  a  bloodvessel,  and 
died.     I  saw  this  do     :  no  notice  was  taken  of  it.* 


I    ! 


-:^:.->||^ 


HENRY  CRAWHION. 


"Was  born  in  Louisville,  Ky.  As  soon  as  able  to 
work,  I  was  hired  out  on  a  steamboat,  and  have  mainly 
followed  steamboating.  Master  died,  and  I  remained 
with  my  mistress  :  young  master  being  a  sporting  char- 
acter, I  had  to  be  sold  to  pay  his  debts.  Was  sold  to  a 
trader  in  L.,  who  took  me  to  South  Carolina,  where  I 
was  employed  three  months  to  take  care  of  race-horses. 
While  there,  I  undertook  to  escape.  I  packed  up  in  a 
carpet-bag,  went  to   depot,  and   bought  a  ticket  for 


*  Female  slaves  cuciente  were  fcnnerly  tied  up  for  punishment : 
but  to  avoifl  the  pecuniary  loss  which  sometimes  ensued,  the  masters 
adopted  the  humane  metliod  said  to  have  been  first  practised  by  the 
French  of  Louisiana.  The  woman's  limbs  are  fastened  to  four  stakes 
driven  into  the  ground  ;  a  portion  of  the  earth  having  been  previously 
removed  in  the  centre  of  the  space  staked  out.  The  traveller  in  Can- 
ada West  will  hear  of  this  mode  in  almost  every  town  and  village ; 
from  old  settlers  and  recent  immigrants ;  from  persons  who  came  from 
different  slave  States,  and  from  parts  of  the  same  State  remote  from 
each  other. 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW   OP   SLAVERY. 


257 


V. 


Montgomery.  A  black  man  suSpected  me,  because  I 
had  changed  my  trunk  for  the  carpet-bag,  —  they  came 
to  the  cars  and  took  me  out.  They  put  me  in  chains, 
and  kept  me  confined  in  the  stable  about  two  months ; 
then  I  found  a  man  who  would  buy  me  and  take  me  to 
Louisville.  I  was  put  in  the  trader's  yard,  but  nobody 
wants  to  buy  out  of  the  yard,  because  they  think  they 
are  put  in  for  some  fault.  I  was  then  taken  down  to 
Port  Gibson,  Miss.,  and  traded  off  for  fifteen  mules.  ,  I 
stayed  there  three  weeks,  and  was  then  taken  to  Baton 
Rouge,  where  I  was  set  up  for  sale.  Here  I  found  a 
man  who  bought  me  to  take  to  Louisville,  where  I  had 
a  wife,  on  the  condition  that  I  would  find  a  man  to  buy 
me  there.  But  I  could  not  find  a  man  who  ivould  buy 
me.  I  went  to  see  my  wife,  and  left  for  the  North.  I 
got  here  last  night.  I  do  n't  feel  reconciled,  on  account 
of  my  wife  and  family.  I  am  anxious  now  to  get  work. 
[He  got  employment  in  the  course  of  the  day.]  I 
would  prefer  Louisville,  if  I  could  be  free  there.  It  is 
hard  on  me  that  I  am  obliged  to  live  away  from  my 
family. 

I  cannot  express  what  I  think  of  slavery,  I  have  so 
horrible  ideas  of  it.  I  was  taken  to  Savannah  on  my 
way  to  Charleston,  and  staid  in  Savannah  four  weeks. 
On  the  farms  around  Savannah,  I  saw  them  using 
bucking-paddles  on  the  women.  There  were  overseers 
and  drivers  behind  the  workmen  on  the  farms.  If  a 
man  lagged,  he  got  a  cut  with  a  whip,  —  if  any  reply 
was  made,  he  was  bucked  doiun.  The  bull  whip  is  used 
freely  all  around  there,  —  I  have  heard  them  crack  like 
a  pist(jl  almost.  In  the  city,  a  black  man  must  get  off 
the  side- walk  if  he  meets  a  white  man,  or  stop  on  the 
curb-stone  and  raise  his  hat :  if  he  meets  a  lady  and 

22* 


Pm'I 


It* 


U' 


If 


J  J,  ' 


rli 


r  1, 
Mi 


■  1  !;  •  ,  '  * 
I  III"  .■■■,•>->■ 
y'JM 


imwm 


!■ 


f 


ik:..  •  n 


i||jijj!| 


258 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


gentleman  he  must  step  clean  off  the  walk  and  raise  his 
hat. 

While  in  Charleston,  S.  C,  I  did  not  know  the  law 
of  the  country,  and  lit  a  cigar  at  my  boarding-house 
and  walked  towards  the  stable  smoking.  I  was  taken 
up  and  put  in  the  calaboose.  Several  others  were  put 
in  for  being  out  after  nine  at  night.  In  the  morning, 
they  gave  each  of  them  ten  lashes  apiece,  and  let  them 
go.  I  asked  them  why  they  did  not  whip  me  and  let 
me  go.  They  said  I  had  committed  a  crime,  and  must 
go  before  a  magistrate.  I  asked  them  "  what  crime  ?  " 
"  Smoking  in  the  street."  I  told  them  I  was  a  stranger, 
and  did  not  know  the  law.  That  made  no  odds,  how- 
ever ;  I  was  sentenced  to  nine  and  thirty  lashes,  and 
received  them  in  the  calaboose  with  a  leather  strap  cut 
into  three  or  four  strips.  White  people  smoke  in  the 
street,  but 't  is  against  the  law  for  a  colored  man. 


MARY  YOUNGER. 


\^i^ 


I  was  reared  a  slave,  and  have  seen  a  great  deal  of 
barbarity  in  the  State  I  came  from.  Many  a  time  I 
have  looked  out  in  the  moonlight,  and  seen  my  little 
children,  just  able  to  walk  to  the  fields,  carrying  buckets 
of  water  to  the  hands.  They  used  to  carry  the  buckets 
on  their  heads :  they  would  wear  off  the  hair,  and  I 
used  to  make  pads  to  protect  the  sore  places  where 
they  carried  the  buckets. 

If  those  slaveholders  were  to  come  here,  I  would  treat 
them  well,  just  to  shame  them  by  showing  that  I  had 


uuiiiaillty. 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OF   SLAVERY. 


259 


A  v/oman  who  lived  near  us,  used  to  beat  her  cook, 
and  burn  her  with  hot  irons.  I  have  seen  the  burns 
with  these  eyes.  The  same  woman  whipped  at  differ- 
ent times  three  of  her  slave  women  to  death.  The  last 
one  I  was  sent  for  by  her  mother  to  see :  I  found  her 
dying.  She  died  while  I  was  standing  by.  Her  mother 
wanted  me  to  shroud  the  corpse :  but  the  mistress  in- 
terfered, and  made  the  dead  woman's  mother  do  it. 
The  house  where  these  cruelties  occurred,  was  so  near 
ours  that  we  could  talk  over  the  palings. 

If  a  white  man  passes  by  a  house,  and  a  person  is 
whipping  a  servant,  he  goes  straight  by  —  he  don't 
see  it. 

I  did  not  know,  when  I  was  a  slave,  that  any  white 
person  had  any  sympathy  for  me.  I  thought  all  white 
people  were  alike,  and  had  no  sympathy  for  colored 
people.  I  did  not  know  the  difference  until  I  reached 
a  free  State,  when  I  saw  the  white  people  use  the  col- 
ored people  like  folks.  I  did  not  hear  such  terms  ap- 
plied as  "wenches,"  "heifers,"  etc.  Where  I  was  raised, 
my  children  were  often  whipped  till  the  blood  ran,  and 
then  they  would  call  me  to  see  if  I  looked  rumpled 
about  it,  and  unless  I  looked  pleased,  I  knew  they 
would  whip  me. 

I  often  wish  that  people  from  the  North  could  just  go 
through  ^'t^  southern  country  at  harvest  time,  and  see 
and  hear  what  is  done  there. 

There  was  a  man  whipped  there  one  day,  and  at 
night  I  took  pity  on  him  and  greased  his  back,  —  he 
died  on  my  lloor. 

The  barbarity  of  slavery  I  never  want  to  see  again. 
I  have  children  now  who  have  got  the  yoke  on  them. 
It  almost  kills  me  to  think  that  they  are  there,  and  that 
I  can  do  them  no  good.     There  they  are  —  I  know  how 


|i*i'' 

''S  ill' 

WmL 

^\IX 


J" 


260 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


it  is  —  it  brings  distress  on  my  mind  —  there  they  are, 
working  till  late  at  night ;  off  before  day ;  and  where 
there  is  no  humanity  —  where  the  lash  is  not  spared. 


EDWARD  HICKS. 

I  was  born  and  raised  in  old  Virginia,  Lunenburg 
county,  and  was  sold  when  a  well-grown  boy  —  was 
put  on  the  block  at  the  court  house  and  sold.  I  was 
frightened  at  being  up  there  on  the  block,  and  was 
afraid  of  being  carried  out  of  the  country.  A  trader  o»n 
his  way  to  New  Orleans  bought  me.  He  took  me  to 
his  pen  at  Brunswick  court  house.  I  being  very  obedi- 
ent, he  thought  I  would  n't  run ;  but  I  determined  to 
run  if  I  could,  for  I  thought  if  I  got  to  New  Orleans,  I 
was  at  the  shutting-up  place.  He  waited  a  day  or  two 
to  attend  another  sale  fifty  miles  off,  taking  us  with 
him  —  perhaps  forty  or  fifty.  We  went  by  stages.  I 
being  so  obedient,  he  turned  me  out  to  bring  water  and 
do  errands  in  general,  while  he  waited  for  the  sale  at 
Brunswick  court  house.  In  this  time  I  thought  about 
my  mother  and  brother  in  the  place  where  I  was  raised, 
and  thought 't  was  about  time  to  run.  I  rin ;  but  did 
not  know  what  way  to  go,  and  took  into  the  pines. 
Now,  after  I  had  done  this,  I  began  to  study  what  I 
should  do  for  something  to  eat:  then  I  was  in  a  strange 
country.  I  continued  there  for  four  days  without  any 
food  except  sassafras  leaves,  and  I  found  water.  After 
that,  I  found  an  old  colored  man.  I  told  him  how  the 
case  was  with  me,  and  asked  for  a  bit  of  bread.  He 
told  me  to  come  to  his  house  at  night,  at  a  certain 


NORTH-SIDE   Vi::^.»    OP  SLAVERY. 


261 


hour,  and  he  would  give  me  a  mouthful  to  eat.  I  went 
to  the  house,  got  some  food ;  and,  behold,  the  patroUers 
were  out  that  night,  and  they  came  within  one  of 
catching  me.  Just  as  I  had  stepped  out  of  the  house, 
they  came  right  in.  The  old  man  came  out  a  little  be- 
fore day  and  whistled.  I  went  to  him,  and  he  put  me 
on  the  way  to  Lunenburg. 

I  travelled  on  about  twelve  miles,  when  it  was  so 
dark  I  dared  not  walk  any  further.  I  made  for  the  bush, 
and  laid  a  stick  with  the  big  end  the  way  I  was  to  go. 
That  night,  about  dark,  I  got  up  and  started  again.  I 
went  on,  and  struck  a  creek  near  midnight,  called  Earn's 
Creek,  —  from  Earn's  Creek,  I  came  to  Stony  Creek. 
Day  overtaking  me,  I  had  to  make  into  the  willows  on 
the  creek.  The  bloodhounds  that  day,  of  their  own 
accord,  having  such  knowledge,  gave  me  a  little  race : 
I  went  down  into  the  creek,  nothing  out  but  my  head, 
among  big  water  moccasin  snakes,  which  I  kept  off 
with  a  stick.  The  dogs  I  saw,  —  they  heard  me,  but 
there  was  no  one  to  hearken  them  on.  At  night  I  left 
the  creek,  and  went  up  into  the  neighborhood  of  the 
house  where  1  was  born  and  raised  :  I  saw  some  of  my 
friends  and  brotiiers  there,  and  I  got  something  to  eat. 
I  was  then  advised  (as  the  advertisement  was  just  out 
from  the  niffger-trsider)  to  go  on  to  an  old  house  where 
cotton  was  kept,  and  there  stay  until  the  advertisement 
was  over.  For  they  drive  for  runaways  there  with 
bloodhounds,  and  r.  great  many  men  moving  abreast, 
so  that  they  will  have  a  man  unless  he  is  a  long  dis- 
tance under  the  ground.  I  went  to  the  cotton  house, 
and  got  under  the  cotto*^,  and  stayed  till  the  drive  was 
over  —  some  two  or  three  days. 

I  came  out  then,  and  made  for  the  bush.  I  stayed 
till  that  trader  went  down  with  that  company  of  col- 


m 


m 


-;:l!l 


:    '.IN  I 


i 


.i,  L: 


J'  ■<. 


<;"1 


l-t 


262 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


&£- 


€1 


I. 'i 


'  ii 


it 


m.ii 


Ml 


ored  people,  and  sold  them  and  came  back.  I  was  out 
all  the  winter  in  caves  and  barns.  In  the  spring  the 
trader  came  back.  There  was  a  white  man  in  Lunen- 
burg, that  wanted  to  buy  me.  The  trader  heard  of  it, 
and  said,  "  I'll  sell  him,  if  you  think  you  can  get  him: 
a  nigger  that  will  stay  in  the  woods  all  winter,  I  won't 
have  him.  What  will  you  give  me  for  him  ?"  It  was 
settled  at  eight  hundred  dollars  :  then  he  sent  out  some 
of  his  boys  to  tell  me,  and  in  a  few  days  I  went  to 
him. 

He  had  four  farms.  I  commenced  to  work  right  at  the 
great  house.  I  stayed  there  three  years,  I  guess :  then  he 
died.  Then  every  man  had  to  come  up  to  be  appraised: 
about  sixty  of  us  were  appraised.     The  same  old  trader 

(S N )  came  up  to  buy  me  again,  chains  and 

handcuffs  all  in  his  hand.  He  swore  that  the  "  nigger" 
that  ran  away  from  him,  was  the  one  he  'd  have,  and 
the  chains  should  not  leave  him,  till  he'd  got  him  to 
Orleans.  At  twelve  o'clock,  I  went  to  the  kitchen  to 
get  my  breakfast,  and  stepped  right  on,  out  into  the 
bush.  The  sale  was  coming  on  in  about  a  week,  and 
the  trader  had  come  on  to  brag  what  he  would  do,  —  I 
stepped  out  right  in  the  bush. 

I  was  appraised  and  given  to  a  young  lady  who 
thought  it  necessary  to  hire  me  out,  right  in  the  bush, 
where  I  was.  A  man  hired  me  at  about  half  price. 
He  was  a  good  man,  —  no  bad  man  will  hire  one  in  the 
bush,  because  he  won't  come  to  him  to  save  his  life, 
and  only  the  big  traders  can  afford  to  have  driving  done. 
After  I  got  to  him,  he  put  me  to  work  at  the  great 
house,  and  he  liked  me  so  well,  he  bought  me. 

He  got  a  man  to  oversee  at  the  great  house,  who 
was  determined  to  make  more  than  any  farmer  in  that 
country.    He  began  to  fight,  kick,  and  knock  over.    We 


.  5> 


x^. 


NORTH^SIDB  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


263 


were  going  along,  suckering  tobacco  one  day  ;  a.  couple 
of  worms  were  found  —  these  big,  horned  worms  — 
lying  on  the  ground  in  the  rows  :  we  had  not  seen  them 
as  we  were  breaking  the  suckers.  He  called  the  two 
men  who  went  by  them,  and  made  each  take  one  of  the 
worms  and  bite  its  head  off.  I  passed  a  small  worm, 
— "  G —  d —  you,"  says  he,  "  you  bite  that  worm's  head, 
and  suck  the  stuff  out  of  him :  you  may  run  away,  — 
you  've  got  to  a  place  now,  where  if  you  run  nine  miles 
into  h — ,  we  '11  go  in  for  you  up  to  our  armpits.  You  've 
made  three  runs,  now  you  've  made  a  bad  stand."  I 
told  him  I  shouldn't  bite  the  worm's  head  off:  it  was 
a  thing  I  never  had  done,  and  I  was  n't  used  to  it,  and 
would  n't  do  it.  He  made  to  me  with  his  bull  whip, 
very  long,  and  struck  me  three  or  four  times  ;  the  third 
or  fourth  time,  I  got  hold  of  it.  He  then  turned  to 
strike  me  with  the  butt,  —  but  being  too  anxious,  he  let 
too  much  of  it  go  over  my  shoulder,  akid  I  caught  the 
other  part,  that  he  was  going  to  knock  me  down  with. 

S H ,  if  he  gets  hold  of  that  paper,  he  '11  know 

all  about  it.  He  hollowed  for  help,  —  he  wanted  the 
other  colored  people  to  help  him.  They  all  passed  on 
with  their  rows,  but  would  not.  I  then  having  hold  of 
both  ends  of  the  whip,  jerked  it  out  of  his  hands  and 
ran.  I  did  not  intend  to  carry  the  whip  far,  but  there 
was  no  stop  for  me  then.  I  went  on  to  the  bush ;  he 
mounted  his  horse,  and  started  off  for  men  and  blood- 
hounds. He  then  came  back  with  the  company  and 
the  hounds,  stripped  the  head  man  and  whipped  him, 
because  he  did  not  help  take  me.  I  was  then  preparing 
to  keep  the  bloodhounds  from  following  me.  I  had 
gathered  up  some  wild  onions,  and  knew  what  to  do. 

The  master  now  came  home.     He  tells  the  overseer, 
that  he  shall  pay  a  dollar  a  day  for  every  day  that  I 


Fil 


B 


P,  ']  \ 


r 


■fii 


'  ^i 


264 


TBB  refugee;  or  a 


was  gone,  for  he  had  no  business  to  make  that  disturb- 
ance among  the  people.  They  chased  me  that  day,  but 
could  not  follow  me  beyond  the  place  where  I  had  put 
on  the  onions.  It  takes  a  mighty  old  hound  to  follow 
that  track.  I  sstayed  three  weeks,  and  then  went  in 
home.  When  I  got  home,  the  old  man  got  hold  of  it 
then,  and  I  was  not  Hogged.  At  the  end  of  the  year, 
my  lost  time  was  brought  against  the  overseer.  The 
overseer  left,  and  went  to  oversee  for  another  man, 
named   S — 


S- 


— ,  at  the  edge  of  Brunswick  Co. 
My  mastei  being  sickly,  in  some  way,  his  boys  being 
sportsmen,  and  gambled,  got  involved,  and  had  to  sell 
part  of  his  hands,  at  sheriff's  sale  I  suppose.  I  v/as 
again  put  on   the  block  and  sold,  and  that  overseer, 

S H ,  persuaded  his  employer,  S ,  to  buy 

me,  so   he  could  get  his  spite  of  me.     S bought 

me  and  sent  me  on  to  the  quarter :  put  on  leg  goggles, 
a  band  of  thin  iron  round  each  ancle,  with  a  piece  of 
wood,  banded  with  iron,  sticking  from  each  with  a  rivet. 
A  man  cannot  run  with  them  on  :  the  iron  plays  round 
and  the  long  piece  whips  his  legs  as  he  runs.  Each 
goggle  weighs  about  three  pounds.  The  overseer  put 
thgm  right  on,  as  soon  as  I  got  there. 

(The  master  had  plenty  of  dogs,  four  of  which  were 
regular  '*  nigger  bloodhounds,"  worth  one  hundred  dol- 
lars or  more  apiece.  That  was  the  first  time  I  began 
studying  head-work.  I  had  been  running  about  in  the 
bush  without  much  object,  but  now  I  began  studying 
head-work  :  while  in  this  condition,  it  put  my  mind  off 
to  study  what  to  do  now.  Every  day  I  was  sure  of 
my  whipping  though  —  that  was  sure  —  with  the  loaded 
bull  whip  —  loaded  at  both  ends :  every  blow  would  cut 
through  the  skin.     I  could  n't  run  —  could  n't  get  away. 


iiiii  I'iii' 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW   OP  SLAVERY. 


265 


I  lay  down  studying,  and  got  up  studying,  how  to  get 
out  of  the  condition  I  was  placed  in.) 

One  night  it  came  to  my  mind  that  I  would  go  to 
t>"^  blacksmith's  shop.  AftcT  every  person  was  asleep, 
ai.  1  every  thing  appeared  still,  I  got  into  the  window 
and  got  a  rasp.  I  put  it  away  where  I  could  get  hold 
of  it,  knowing  that  if  I  cut  it  part  through,  they  would 
see  it,  and  band  me  stronger.  That  night  I  studied 
that  I  v/ould  go  down  deep,  right  there  in  the  yard, 
where  they  machine  cotton  and  pack  cotton,  right  down 
among  the  seeds  —  way  down  —  five  feet  I  guess  I 
went  down,  —  and  that  the  bloodhounds  would  not  find 
me,  as  they  would  look  round  for  me  outside.  I  studied 
that  as  hard  as  a  Philadelphia  lawyer  ever  studied  a 
case :  if  he  studies  as  hard  as  I  studied  that,  he  '11  give 
a  right  judgment. 

I  went  down  the  night  after  I  got  the  rasp,  taking 
the  rasp  with  me.  The  cotton  seed  and  motes  tum- 
bled in  after  me  as  I  went  down,  and  buried  me  up 
entirely.  They  walked  over  me :  I  could  feel  the  rat- 
tling over  me.  I  could  not  rifle  in  there.  The  next 
night  I  came  out,  and  commenced  rifling  to  get  off  the 
goggles.  They  'lad  been  out  all  the  day  with  some 
drivers  and  the  bloodhounds,  expecting,  as  I  had  the 
goggles  on,  to  catch  me  directly.  I  sat  up  on  the  up- 
per floor,  where  I  could  see  by  the  light  of  the  moon  or 
stars,  and  there  I  rifled  away  ;  I  rifled  faithfully,  and  got 
one  off  that  night,  —  but  I  had  to  break  it  away  some, 
and  got  the  skin  off  my  leg.  Before  day  I  went  down 
into  the  hole  again. 

The  next  night  I  came  out  and  rifled  off  the  other:  it 
came  of!  easier  thai;  the  other.  Now  I  've  got  to  go  down 
again.  Into  the  same  hole  I  went — 'twould  n't  do  to 
come  out  yet.     They  had  driven  the  second  day,  and  I 

23 


J.  13 


it'-i 


./ 


266 


THE  keptjgee;  or  a 


was  afraid  they  would  the  third.  I  had  eaten  nothing 
all  tiiib  time,  nor  drank  a  drop.  The  next  nicfht  about 
dark,  I  jumped  out  and  went  int  "^e  bush.  I  knew  all 
abo'-t  that  neighborhood,  and  which  way  to  go.  I  got 
me  an  old  scythe-blade,  and  broke  off  a  piece  and  made 
me  a  knife.  This  I  found  at  the  machine  as  T  was  on 
the  way  to  the  bush.  Then  I  killed  me  a  pig,  took 
him  on  my  buck  and  walked  five  miles.  I  dressed  him, 
singed  off  the  hair,  and  before  he  was  fairly  dressed,  I 
had  his  ears  on  the  coals  broiling.  - 

Another  consideration  struck  me  now.  It  would  be 
death  to  go  back  to  that  place:  I  must  get  to  a  free 
land  now.  I  had  got  the  irouB  off —  that  I  knew.  I 
came  out  of  that  county,  went  into  a  neighboring 
county,  into  the  bush,  and  staid  out  six  months.  I 
heard  of  some  free  people  coming  on  to  the  Ohio,  and 
I  thought  I  would  get  in  the  crowd.  We  came  on 
with  a  white  man  who  had  formed  an  attachment  to  a 
colored  girl,  and  as  she  was  coming,  he  determined  to 
i^;ave  too,  although  he  was  a  regular  patroller.  I  came 
on  with  him  as  a  waiter  and  servant,  and  very  faith- 
fully I  worked  too.  "We  travelled  with  horses  and 
wagons,  but  some  had  to  walk.  I  had  to  pull  at  the 
baggage,  —  I  would  have  pulled  a  wagon  all  through 
myself  but  what  I  'd  have  come.  I  was  concealed  the 
first  part  of  the  way ;  all  the  food  and  clothes  piled  on 
me  in  the  v.  agon,  which  was  very  uncomfortable.  You 
do  n't  know  how  much  I  endured.  At  night  I  would 
get  out  and  walk.  We  succeeded  until  we  got  to  Point 
Pleasant ;  within  three  or  four  miles  of  the  ferry,  we 
met  men  at  different  times,  telling  this'  tale  —  "  If  you 
take  your  slaves  this  way  they  '11  all  get  free,  —  for 
you  '11  get  'em  on  the  Ohio  side :  I  would  n't  take  that 
man ;  if  you  want  to  sell  him,  you  can  get  your  money 
right  in  this  place,"  etc. 


¥i 


x& 


l.ORTH-SIDB  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


267 


He  began  to  fear  that  they'd  think  he  was  running 
away  hUivcs.  "Look  here,"  say.^  he,  "  to-night  you'd 
better  take  a  skiff  and  eross  the  river  —  these  folka  have 
got  passes  to  shov^^  and  you  have  not."  This  made 
me  uneasy — I  knew  othing  about  paddling  a  skiff: 
I  might  get  off  into  the  middle  of  the  river,  and  then 
paddle  i  ick  to  the  same  shore.  I  then  said  to  him, 
"  It  is  a  niatl  ''  oi..,se  that  we  go  on,  and  I  go  or 
as  you  said,   ai  I've  a  right  to   take  your  sla    ^ 

wherever   yi  *'.'"      Now  he  told  me,   "  Do  you 

go  off,  and  com  to  us  when  we  get  to  the  ferry- 

place."  I  said,  '■  uat  won't  do."  We  reasoned  con- 
siderably about  it:  he  was  a  man  that  would  hear  to 
a  little  reason,  and  so  we  reasoned.  Now  he  told 
me,  "  Suppose  I  sell  you,  and  I  come  back  and  steal 
you,  and  we  divide  the  money  ? "  He  was  turning 
now ;  he  'd  been  into  the  town  that  day :  enough 
wanted  to  buy  me,  but  they  did  n't  want  the  women. 
I  told  him,  that  would  n't  do  —  that  was  n't  our  bargain 
—  I  had  worked  for  him  all  the  way,  and  his  agreement 
was  to  take  me  over  the  feiTy,  and  go  on  to  the  farm  he 
was  to  take,  and  wo.rk  for  him  one  year  at  clearing,  etc. 
We  came  on,  all  hands,  down  to  the  ferry  at  Point 
Pleasant,  —  some  were  for  putting  me  in  the  wagon, 
and  covering  me ;  but  they  would  search  the  wagon. 
So  I  walked  with  the  rest. 

At  the  ferry,  the  guard  who  watches  all  who  cross  the 
ferry  —  a  great,  big  white  man,  who  looked  rather  severe, 
quizzed  my  master,  whether  I  was  his  slave,  and  ques- 
tioned so  close,  that  the  white  man  began  to  grow 
weak  in  the  knees,  and  I  saw  it :  he  trembled.  I  was 
scared  for  him,  and  I  was  scared  about  being  taken  my- 
self—  it  was  a  scaring  time.  The  guard  told  him  the 
consequences  —  of  going  to  the  penitentiary,  if  he  were 


5ru-i 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporalion 


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o^ 


33  WIST  MAIN  STMET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  M9S0 

(71«)  •72-4503 


o^ 


■^■' 


m 


nMi 


ir^i 


\^ 


-'  i' 


he- 


..-ggg 


THE  refugee;  OB  A 


\l 


going  ofT  with  another  man's  slave.  He  trembled,  and 
got  weak,  so  that  he  did  not  get  over  it,  till  he  got  way 
out  into  the  Ohio.  We  were  commanded  to  get  aboard 
the  ferry-boat,  and  over  we  went.  I  walked  on  behind 
him,  as  he  went  up  the  hill :  he  yet  trembled,  and  so 
did  I,  not  knowing  what  might  take  place  yet.  '  I  felt 
joyful  that  I  had  got  over,  but  it  was  no  time  to  rejoice 
there.  We  put  the  man  in  the  wagon,  and  dragged 
him :  he  was  more  scared  than  he  ought  to  have  been. 

I  went  to  w^ork  with  him  in  Ohio,  according  to  prom- 
ise. After  we  had  begun,  it  got  clear  back  to  where  I 
started  from,  that  I  was  in  Ohio.  I  made  out  that  I 
was  d'man  from  Cincinnati,  and  was  hired  for  moneyts 
but  it  got  back  home,  that  I  was  in  Ohio.  He  theii 
told  me  to  Jeave.  I  understood  that  there  was  a  reward 
of  five  hundred  dollars  offered  to  any  one  who  would 
take  me  over  the  river  to  the  Kentucky  side.  I  had 
been  tiiere  as  near  as  I  can  tell  about  six  months  when 
I  got  this  news.  I  left  him  and  was  concealed  at  Gal- 
lipolis,  at  old  man  Isaac  Browner's  house  —  he  is  dead 
now,  and  'twont  do  any  hurt  to  mention  his  name. 
He  put  me  in  a  bedtick  on  which  he  placed  his  children, 
who  were  sick  of  measles.  I  was  in  the  straw-tick, 
the  feather-bed  was  above  me,  and  then  the  children. 
This  was  so,  that  if  they  came  to  search  for  the 
sake  of  the  reward,  they  might  not  move  the  sick.  I 
stayed  there  one  day :  I  cared  nothing  for  the  heat,  dis- 
comfort, nor  sickness.  All  I  thought  of  was  to  get  off 
clear.  At  night-fall,  I  all  alone  came  to  the  wharf  to 
hail  a  boat  —  he  told  me  how — to  hollow  "passenger." 
The  boat  was  for  the  salt-works  at  Kanawha.  If  I  had 
gone  on  board  they  wouid  have  taken  me  sure,  because 
the  boat  was  going  to  the  place  I  did  not  want  to  go. 
The  boat  did  not,  however,  put  in  for  me,  and  I  had  to 


i..«t-V., 


led,  and 
jot  way 
;  aboaxd 

behind 
,  and  so 
;.  'I  felt 
3  rejoice 
dragged 
e  been, 
to  prom- 
where  I 
it  that  I 

moneyl^ 
He  theii 
a  reward 

0  would 
.  I  had 
tha  when 

1  at  Gal- 
;  is  dead 
is  name, 
children, 
raw-tick, 
children. 

for  the 
sick.  I 
leat,  dis- 
o  get  off 
wharf  to 
ssenger." 
If  I  had 
because 
nt  to  go. 
I  had  to 


NORTH-SIDB  VIEW  07  8LAVEBT. 


2^- 


go  back  and  get  concealed  again.  The  next  day,  they 
disguised  me, — I  went  down  to  the  wharf — a  boat 
was  coming  which  was  bound  fur  Pittsburg :  it  touched 
the  wharf-boat,  —  there  was  no  freight  and  only  three 
passengers;  a  gentleman  and  a  lady,  and  myself;  they 
stepped  aboard,  and  so  did  I,  —  a  little  bell  rung,  and 
away  went  the  boat :  when,  looking  back,  I  saw  two 
men  w;hom  I  knew,  standing  on  a  place,  where  they 
could  see  every  man  who  came  down  to  the  boat.  But 
they  did  not  know  me  and  the  boat  came  on. 

The  river  was  high,  and  we  came  on  slowly.  I  did 
not  sleep  for  four  nights  at  all  —  dozed  a  little  in 
daytime.  There  was  another  boat  coming  behind, — 
"  Clipper,  No.  2,"  —  and  I  was  afraid  she  was  in  pursuit 
of  me.  I  fired  up  harder  on  that  account :  although  I 
expected  to  get  nothing  for  my  work,  I  worked  sharp. 
After  we  had  started  out,  the  clerk  came  round  with 
his  book  and  pen.  I  tried  to  dodge,  but  when  he 
touched  me,  I  thought  I  was  gone.  But  he  only  wanted 
the  money :  I  gave  him  all  I  had,  and  he  returned  me 
ten  cents.  I  had  my  victuals  for  my  work.  At  Pitts- 
burg, I  left  a  handkerchief  of  victuals,  which  I  had  put 
up,  I  was  in  such  a  hurry.  I  went  up  into  the  town, 
and  inquired  for  the  country,  where  I  could  get  work. 
I  worked  not  many  miles  from  Pittsburg,  and  got  a  lit? 
tie  money,  and  then  concluded  to  come  to  Canada, 
where  I  would  be  safe. 

I  have  been  here  about  six  years.  I  like  Canada  well, 
—  I  am  satisfied  with  it.  I  have  got  a  little  property 
together,  worth  some  two  thousand  dollars. 

Liquor  is  right  along  the  road  here,  and  some  make 
fools  of  themselves :  but  I  mind  my  business,  and  am 
doitig  well. 

My  opinion  of  slavery  is,  that  it  ought  to  be  broken 

23' 


^d 


\\ 


THB  refuqeb;  or  a 


w 


down.  If  the  white  people  were  to  set  the  slaves  free, 
and  offer  to  hire  them,  they  would  jump  at  the  chance: 
they  would  n't  cut  throats. 

We  have  got  some  good  white  friends  in  the  United 
States.  If  it  had  not  been  for  them,  I  would  not  have 
got  here. 


HENRY  BLUE. 

I  learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  in  Kentucky.  I 
should  have  been  perfectly  miserable  to  have  had  to 
work  all  my  life  for  another  man  for  nothing.  As  sooln 
as  I  had  arrived  to  years  of  discretion,  I  felt  deter- 
mined that  I  would  not  be  a  slave  all  my  days.  My 
master  was  a  kind  and  honorable  man ;  purchased  no 
slaves  himself:  what  he  had,  came  by  marriage.  He 
used  to  I  say  it  was  wrong  to  hold  slaves,  and  a  good 
many  who  hold  them  say  the  same.  It's  a  habit — they 
mean,  they  sa^'  to  set  them  free  at  such  a  time,  or  such 
a  time,  —  by  by  they  die,  and  the  children  hold  on 
to  the  slaves. 

I  purchased  my  freedom,  and  remained  in  Kentucky 
awhile;  then  removed  to  Cincinnati;  thence  to  Chat- 
ham. Every  thing  goes  well  with  me  in  CaAada:  I 
have  no  reason  to  complain. 

I, think  that  if  a  slaveholder  offers  his  servant  free- 
dom, on  condition  that  he  will  earn  and  pay  a  certain 
sum,  and  the  slave  accepts  freedom  on  that  Condition, 
he  is  bound  in  honor  to  pay  the  sum  promised. , 

Some  poor,  ignorant  fellows  may  be  satisfied  with 
their  condition  as  slaves,  but,  as  a  general  thing,  fhey 
are  not  satisfied  with  being  slaves. 


w 

es  free, 
hance: 

United 
)t  have 


NOBTH-SIDB  VIBW  OV  SI^VERT.  1^ 


^*^-<t 


icky.    I 

had  to 

As  soon 

t   deter- 

jrs.    My 

lased  no 

ge.    He 

a  good 

t— they 

,  or  such 

hold  on 

iientucky 
to  Chat- 
inada:  I 

ant  firee- 
a  certain 
ondition, 

fied  with 
ling,  they 


!*1 


AARON  SIDDLF8. 

.  By  the  law  of  Almighty  God,  I  was  born  free,  —  by 
the  law  of  man  a  slave.  I  was  born  in  South  Carolina : 
was  raised  in  Murfreesboro',  Tenn.,  until  nineteen.  I 
was  taken  into  Kentucky,  and  sold  three  times.  Then 
I  was  sold  to  one  of  the  worst  negro-traders  that  ever 
was,  to  be  taken  five  miles  below  Baton  Rouge.  While 
he  was  purchasing  more,  I  gave  my  guard  the  slip,  and 
went  into  the  bush  five  months.  In  this  time  I  slept  in 
no  man's  house  nor  barn :  I  felt  that  there  were  only 
two  persons  in  the  world  I  could  trust :  one  girl,  Lavina 
Robinson,  who  brought  me  food  from  a  white  man,  and 
that  white  man  himself,  Timothy  Guard.  Mr.  Guard 
knew  me  well,  —  I  was  his  foreman  —  cooper.  He 
offered  $1,000  for  me :  the  trader  would  n't  take  it. 
Guard  lent  me  the  money  —  I  offered  it  for  myself. 
The  trader  said,  "I  know  you  had  that  money  of 
Guard,  and  I  won't  please  him.  I  want  you  —  you'll 
make  a  first-rate  w^g-er-driver."  I  felt  I  would  rather 
be  killed  than  go.  I  was  only  afraid  they  'd  chain  me : 
I  think  they  were  afraid  to  undertake  it.  I  was  a  stout 
man,  and  have  lifted  seven  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  — 
a  steamboat  shaft.  It  was  on  a  bet ;  a  Southerner  bet 
a  new  coat  he  had  against  five  dollars,  that  I  could  not 
lift  it.     I  lifted  it  with  ease,  and  took  the  coat. 

I  took  to  the  woods  as  I  said.  The  trader  got  dis- 
couraged, and  sold  the  chance  of  me  to  Guard  for 
$1,000.  The  conditions  were,  if  Guard  ever  saw  me 
in  the  United  States,  he  was  to  pay  the  money.  He 
saw  me  the  nexl  night,  for  I  went  in.  I  had  a  previous 
understanding  with  Guard,  that  if  he  bought  me,  I  was 
to  have  a  chance  to  buy  myself.    He  gave  me  a  paper 


# 


\t 


TBB  refdqeb;  or  a 


w 


if 


signed  before  witnesses,  that  I  was  to  be  freb,  when  I 
paid  him  $1,600.  He  also  gave  me  papers  stating  that 
I  was  allowed  to  trade  for  myself:  if  I  would  not  pay, 
he  would,  and  if  any  one  would  not  pay  me,  he  would 
compel  them.  I  went  to  work  as  steward  of  a  steam- 
boat. At  first,  I  got  $35  a  month,  which  raised,  till  I 
got  $100  a  month.  I  paid  off  Guard  between  six  and 
seven  years  after :  still  remained  on  the  boats,  and,  in 
all,  I  worked  eleven  years  with  one  man  at  $100  a 
month,  —  and  he  would  give  me  that  now,  if  I  would 
go  back. 

On  passing  up  or  down  the  Mississippi,  between 
slave  (States,  the  first  thing  I  heard  in  the  morning  wa? 
the  sound  of  the  great  bells,  which  are  rung  to  call  the 
slaves.  The  next  thing,  before  it  was  light  enough  to 
see,  I  heard  the  crack  of  the  overseer's  whip,  and  the 
cries  of  the  slaves,  "Oh!  pray,  Mas'r!  Oh!  pray, 
Mas*r!"  Every  morning  I  heard  it  from  both  sides  of 
the  river., 

Living  in  Indiana,  I  was  dissatisfied  with  the  laws  of 
the  country.  I  had  a  good  deal  of  property  there ;  it 
was  not  safe,  for  any  loafing  white  might  destroy  or 
steal,  and  unless  a  white  man  were  by  to  see  it,  I  could 
get  no  redress. 

One  time  in  Indiana,  seven  white  fellows,  without 
provocation,  threw  brickbats  at  my  house,  and;  broke 
my  windows.  I  was  so  mad,  that  I  seized  my  gun  and 
pursued  them,  and  put  some  small  shot  in  the  backs  of 
two  of  them.  Dr.  F.  would  not  take  out  the  shot,  un- 
less they  would  tell  him  where  they  got  them\  They 
told  him  they  had  been  to  steal  watermelons ;  had  not 
got  any;  and  on  passing  my  house,  Jihey  thre\y  the 
brickbats  because  colored  people  lived  there.  The  Dr. 
blamed  them,  said  I  was  as  much  esteemed  and  respect- 


/heft  I 
g  that 

t  pay, 
woulid 
9team- 

ituii 

ix  and 

Bind,  in 

^100  a 

would 

etween 
ngwM 
;aU  th^ 
»ugh  to 
ind  the 
!  pray, 
ides  of 

laws  of 
lere;  it 
troy  or 
I  could 

ivithout 
broke 
un  and 
acks  of 
ii)t,  un- 
They 
lad  not 
e\fr  the 
The  Dr. 
respect- 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


273 


•V 


ed  as  any  man  there.  They  owned  they  had  no  cause. 
I  afterward  made  it  known  that,  as  my  oath  was  good 
for  nothing,  if  any  white  man  interfered  with  me,  or 
trespassed  on  my  property,  I  would  mafee  him  a  witness. 

I  removed  to  Canada,  where  I  would  have  an  equal 
oath  with  any  man,  when  any  thing  occurred ;  where  I 
would  have  every  right  that  every  man  has.  I  brought 
ten  thousand  dollars  into  Canada  with  me,  and  I  find 
profitable  employment  for  my  capital  here. 

Excepting  for  the  oppressive  laws,  I  would  rather 
have  remained  in  Indiana.  I  left  one  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful places  in  that  country  —  everybody  who  sees  it 
says  it  is  a  beautiful  place.  I  had  a  two-story  firame 
house,  with  piazza  —  good  stable  —  and  every  arrange- 
ment about  the  premises  was  nice  and  convenient.  I 
had  abundance  of  apples,  peaches,  quinces,  plums,  and 
grapes.  I  paid  my  taxes,  and  felt  hurt  and  angry  toO| 
that  I  was  not  allowed  my  oath  —  there  was  no  justice 
in  it.  The  road  tax,  I  wovM  not  work  out.  They 
threatened  to  sue  me.  I  told  them  I  would  stand  a 
lawsuit  first,  and  take  it  to  the  Supreme  Court. 
♦'  What!"  said  I,  " shall  a  white  man  drive  against  me, 
on  this  very  road,  and  break  my  wagon,  and  I  get  no 
redress  ?  No !  when  you  give  me  my  oath,  I  '11  work 
on  the  roads."  They  never  sued  me.  I  suffered  op- 
pression in  being  obliged  to  leave  my  place  to  claim 
my  rights  as  a  man. 

I  blame  for  this  the  tories  and  turncoats  of  the  free 
States.  They  don't  put  in  right  men,  that  are  true  to 
their  country.  They  are  chosen  to  represent  the  free 
States,  but  they  act  with  the  South.  Just  exactly  what 
they  call  dough-faces. 

I  was  never  taught  to  read  or  write. 


\t 


274 


THB  rbfuqib;  or  a 


JOHN  C N. 

I  live  at  the  concession  line  and  farm  about  four  miles 
from  Ciiatham.  I  was  many  years  a  slave,  and  have 
been  up  and  down  the  Mississippi  a  great  deal.  In  the 
morning  the  great  bells  ring  on  the  plantations.  Before 
you  can  see  persons  on  the  farms,  you  hear  the  whips 
crack  and  the  slaves  cry  out.  I  have  heard  them  every 
morning,  when  passing  up  or  down  the  river,  —  ^*  Oh 
Lord !  master !  —  Oh  Lord !  master ! "  It  seems  to  me 
always  as  I  heard  them  in  the  dark,  as  if  hell  was  there, 
and  I  heard  the  cries  of  them  who  were  just  going 
into  it 


I  REUBEN  SAUNDERS. 

I  was  born  in  Greene  Co.,  Georgia.  At  about  twelve 
years  old,  our  family  was  broken  up  by  the  death  of  my 
master.  I  was  the  oldest  child :  there  were  three  broth- 
ers and  two  sisters.  My  master's  children  had  grown, 
and  were  married,  and  settled  in  various  parts  of 
Georgia.  We  were  all  separated,  —  no  two  went  to- 
gether. My  mother's  master  was  about  half  a  mile 
from  where  the  youngest  child  was.  They  did  not 
think  it  would  know  enough  to  learn  the  way.  Sorpe 
of  them  carried  her  once  to  see  her  mother,  and  she 
learned  the  way.  She  used  to  go  over  to  Where  her 
mother  lived,  and  creep  under  the  house,  where  she 
would  wait  till  her  mother  came  into  the  yard  and  then 
ran  to  her.  There  were  bad  dogs  there,  but  they  did 
not  trouble  her.     My  mother's  master  tried  tQ  buy  this 


NORTH-BIDB  VIBW  Of  SLAVERY. 


27ff 


ir  miles 
d  have 
In  the 
Before 
J  whips 
n  every 
—  "Oh 
s  to  me 
18  there, 
t  goiAg 


t  twelve 
h  of  my 
!e  broth- 
l  grown, 
parts  of 
went  to- 
a  mile 
did  not 
.     Sorfie 
and  she 
here  her 
here  she 
and  then 
they  did 
buy  this 


child,  but  her  owner  would  not  sell  her  under  six  hun- 
dred dollars.  He  did  not  mean  to  sell.  I  have  not  seen 
my  mother  since  the  sale.  I  remained  there  from  twelve 
to  twenty-four  years  of  age,  and  was  well  treated. 

I  was  never  caught  there  with  a  book  in  my  hand,  or 
a  pen.  I  never  saw  but  one  slave  in  Oeorgia,  who 
could  read  and  write,  and  he  was  brought  in  from  an- 
other State. 

The  treatment  about  there,  seemed  to  depend  on  the 
number  a  man  had.  If  few,  they  got  on  well,  if  many, 
they  fared  worse.  If  a  man  used  his  slaves  with  kind- 
ness more  than  the  others,  they  disliked  it. 

From  Georgia,  I  was  removed  to  Mississippi,  —  that 
being  considered  a  money-making  place.  I  was  the 
only  slave  my  master  had.  I  went  on  with  him.  At 
first  he  engaged  in  rafting  cypress  timber,  then  kept  a 
wood-yard  on  the  Mississippi.  I  stayed  there  sixteen 
years.  Then  he  brought  me  and  my  wife  and  children 
to  Indiana,  and  set  us  free.  He  had  made  money  fast, 
and  he  made  a  good  use  of  it,  —  for  he  bought  my  wife 
and  three  children,  and  my  wife's  brother,  on  purpose 
to  set  us  free.  My  family  cost  him  thirteen  hundred 
dollars,  and  the  brother,  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 
He  afterward  v"it  down  the  Mississippi  with  eight 
hundred  dollars,  and  to  sell  some  land  and  wind  up. 
He  was  lost  off  the  boat  and  drowned :  some  thought 
he  was  robbed  and  pushed  overboard. 

I  do  n't  think  any  man  can  of  right,  hold  property  in 
another.  I  like  the  condition  of  fireedom,  —  what  I 
make  is  mine.    I  arrived  here  last  April. 


u 


.^ 


276 


THE  revugeb;  or  a 


THOMAS  IlEDGEBETH. 

I  was  born  free,  in  Halifax  Co.  North  Carolina,  where 
I  lived  thirty-five  years.  About  ten  years  ago,  I  re- 
moved to  Indiana.  My  father  was  a  farmer,  half  White, 
who  ran  through  his  farm.  If  a  white  man  there  brings 
a  great  account,  the  white  man  would  carry  it  against 
the  colored,  —  the  law  there  does  not  favor  colored  peo- 
ple. I  cannot  read  or  write.  A  free-born  man  in  North 
Carolina  is  as  much  oppressed,  in  one  sense,  as  the 
slav^ :  I  was  not  allowed  to  go  to  school.  I  recollect 
when  I  was  a  boy,  a  colored  man  came  from  OhiO) 
and  opened  a  school,  but  it  was  broken  up.  I  was  m 
the  field  ploughing  with  my  father,  —  he  said  he  wished 
we  could  go  and  learn.  I  think  it  an  outrageous  sin 
and  shame,  that  a  free  colored  man  could  not  be  taught. 
My  ignorance  has  a  very  injurious  effect  on  my  pros- 
pects and  success.  I  blame  the  State  of  North  Caro- 
lina— the  white  people  of  that  State — for  it.  I  am  now 
engaged  in  a  troublesome  lawsuit,  about  the  title  to 
my  estate,  which  I  would  not  have  got  into,  had  I 
known  how  to  read  and  write. 

There  were  lots  of  slaves  in  the  neighborhood  where 
I  was  raised.  After  I  grew  up  to  take  notice  of  things, 
I  found  I  was  oppressed  as  well  as  they.  I  thought  it 
a  sin  then,  for  one  man  to  hold  another.  I  never  was 
allowed  to  visit  among  the  slaves,  —  had  I  been  caught 
visiting  them,  I  should  have  been  fined:  if  a > slave  had 
visited  me,  he  would  have  been  whipped.  This  pre- 
vented my  having  much  intercourse  with  them,  except 
when  I  was  hired  to  work  by  the  masters.  The  con- 
versation among  the  slaves  was,  that  they  worked  hard, 
and  got  no  benefit,  —  that  the  masters  got  it  all.    They 


NORTtt-StDB  YlBW  OV  SLAVERT. 


m 


,  where 
S  I  re- 
l  White, 
3  brings 
against 
ed  peo- 
ti  North 

as  the 
•ecollect 
n  OhM>, 
[  was  in 
5  wished 
eous  sin 
5  taught, 
ny  pros- 
th  Caro- 
am  now 

title  to 
),  had  I 

3d  'where 
)f  things, 
iought  it 
ever  was 
n  caught 
slave  had 
This  pre- 
no,  except 
The  con- 
ked hard, 
mU.    They 


knew  but  little  about  the  good  of  themselves,  —  they 
often  grumbled  about  food  and  clothing,  —  that  they 
had  not  enough.  I  never  heard  a  colored  man  grum- 
bling dbout  that  here.  They  were  generally  religious, 
—-  thdy  believed  in  a  just  God,  and  thought  the  owners 
wrong  in  punishing  them  in  the  way  they  were  pun- 
ished. A  good  many  Were  so  ignorant  that  they  did 
not  know  any  better,  than  to  suppose  that  they  were 
made  for  slavery,  and  the  white  men  for  freedom.  Some, 
however,  would  talk  about  freedom,  and  think  they 
ought  to  be  free. 

I  have  often  been  insulted,  abused,  and  imposed  upon, 
and  had  advantage  taken  of  me  by  the  whites  in  North 
Carolina,  and  could  not  help  myself. 

"When  I  was  twenty-one,  I  went  to  vote,  supposing  it 
would  be  allowed.  The  'Squire,  who  held  the  box  ob- 
jected, and  said  no  colored  man  was  allowed  to  vote. 
I  felt  very  badly  about  it,  —  I  felt  cheap,  and  I  felt 
vexed :  but  I  knew  better  than  to  make  an  answer,  —  I 
would  have  been  knocked  down  certain.  Unless  I  took 
off  my  hat,  and  made  a  bow  to  a  white  man,  when  I 
met  him,  he  would  rip  out  an  oath,  —  "  d — n  you,  you 
mulatto,  ain't  you  got  no  politeness  ?  do  n  't  you  know 
enough  to  take  off  your  hat  to  a  white  man?"  On  go- 
ing into  a  store,  I  was  required  to  take  off  my  hat. 

I  have  seen  slaves  with  whom  I  worked,  nearly  starved 
out,  and  yet  stripped  and  whipped ;  blood  cut  out  of 
them.  It  makes  my  flesh  creep  now  to  -think  of  it— 
such  gashes  as  I've  seen  cut  in  them.  After  a  whip- 
ping, they  would  often  leave  and  take  to  the  woods  for 
a  month  or  two,  and  live  by  taking  what  they  could 
find.  I  've  often  heard  it  said  that 's  the  cause  of  col- 
ored people  in  the  South  being  dishonest,  because  they 
are  brought  so  as  to  be  obliged  to  steal.    But  I  do  not 

24 


\i 


378 


THS  BBTUOU;  OB  A 


consider  it  dishonest  —  I  always  thought  it  right  for  a 
slave  to  take  and  eat  as  much  as  he  wanted  where  he 
labored. 

At  some  places  where  I  have  worked,  I  have  knoWn 
that  the  slaves  had  not  a  bite  of  meat  given  them. 
They  had  a  pint  of  corn  meal  unsifted,  for  a  meal,  -— 
three  pints  a  day.  I  have  seen  the  white  men  measure 
it,  and  the  cook  bake  it,  and  seen  them  eat  it :  that  wa9 
all  they  had  but  water  —  they  might  have  as  much  of 
that  as  they  wanted.  This  is  no  hearsay  —  I  've  seen 
it  through  the  spring,  and  on  until  crop  time:  three 
pints  of  meal  a  day  and  the  bran  and  nothing  else.  I 
heard  them  talk  among  themselves  about  having  got  a 
chicken  or  something,  and  being  whipped  for  it.  They 
were  a  bad  looking  set  — some  twenty  of  them  — 
starved  and  without  clothing  enough  for  decency.  It 
ought  to  have  been  a  disgrace  to  their  master,  to  see 
them  about  his  house.  If  a  man  were  to  go  through 
Canada  so,  they'd  stop  him  to  know  what  he  meant  by 
it — whether  it  was  poverty  or  if  he  was  crazy, —  and 
they  'd  put  a  suit  of  clothes  on  him.  I  have  seen  them 
working  out  in  the  hot  sun  in  July  or  August  without 
hats  —  bareheaded.  It  was  not  from  choice,  —  they 
could  n't  get  hats. 

I  have  seen  families  put  on  the  block  and  sold,  some 
one  way,  some  another  way.  I  remember  a  family 
about  two  miles  from  me,  —  a  father  and  mother  and 
three  children.  Their  master  died,  and  they  were  sold. 
The  father  went  one  way,  the  mother  another,  with 
one  child,  and  the  other  two  children  another  way.  I 
saw  the  sale  —  I  was  there  —  I  went  to  buy  hogs. 
The  purchaser  examined  the  persons  of  the  slaves  to 
see  if  they  were  sound,  —  if  they  were  "  good  niggers.'* 
I  was  used  to  such  things,  but  it  made  me  feel  bad  to 


NORTH-SIDB  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


t  for  a 
lere  he 

knoWn 
them. 

leal,— 

[leasure 

lat  wa» 

luch  of 

ve  seen 

j:  three 

else.    I 

ig  got  a 

.    Thoy 

them  — 

ncy.    It 

;r,  to  see 

through 

[leant  by 

^,  —  and 
en  them 
without 
,  — they 

>ld,  some 

family  • 
)ther  and 
vere  sold, 
her,  with 
r  way.  I 
uy  hogs, 
slaves  to 
niggers." 
jel  bad  to 


see  it  The  oldest  was  about  ten  or  eleven  yean.  It 
waB  hard  upon  them  to  be  separated  —  they  made 
lamentations  about  it  I  never  heard  a  white  man  at  a 
sale  express  a  wish  that  a  family  might  be  sold  to- 
gether. 

On  removing  to  Indiana,  the  white  people  did  not 
seem  so  hostile  altogether,  nor  want  the  colored  people 
to  knuckle  quite  so  low.  There  were  more  white  peo- 
ple who  were  friendly  than  in  North  Carolina.  I  was 
not  allowed  my  vote  nor  my  oath.  There  were  more 
who  wished  colored  people  to  have  their  rights  than  in 
North  Carolina,  —  I  mean  there  were  abolitionists  in 
Indiana. 

I  came  here  a  year  last  spring,  to  escape  the  oppres- 
sion of  the  laws  upon  tb'  colored  men.  After  the  fugi- 
tive slave  bill  was  passed,  a  man  came  into  Indianapo- 
lis, and  claimed  John  Freeman,  a  free  colored  man,  an 
industrious,  respectable  man,  as  his  slave.  He  brought 
proofs  enough.  Freeman  was  kept  in  jail  several  weeks, 
—  but  at  last  it  turned  out  that  the  slave  sought,  was 
not  Freeman,  but  a  colored  man  in  Canada,  and  F. 
was  released.  The  danger  of  being  taken  as  Freeman 
was,  and  suffering  from  a  different  decision,  worked  on 
my  mind.  I  came  away  into  Canada  in  consequence, 
as  did  many  others.  There  were  colored  people  who 
could  have  testified  to  Freeman's  being  free  from 
his  birth,  but  their  oath  would  not  be  taken  in  In- 
diana. 

In  regard  to  Canada,  I  like  the  country,  the  soil,  as 
well  as  any  country  I  ever  saw.  I  like  the  laws,  which 
leave  a  man  as  much  freedom  as  a  man  can  have,  — 
still  there  is  prejudice  here.  The  colored  people  are 
trying  to  remove  this  by  improving  and  educating 
themselves,  and  by  industry,  to  show  that  they  are  a 


w 


280 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


people  who  have  minds,  and  that  all  they  want  is  ctil- 
tivating. 

I  do  not  know  how  many  colored  people  are  here  — - 
but  last  summer  five  hundred  and  twenty«five  wete 
counted  leaving  the  four  churches. 


WILLIAM  BROWN. 

[An  old  maiij  apparently  eighty  years  of  age,  nearly  bald :  vrhaX 
little  liair  he  had  was  grey.  His  countenance  wore  a  pleasant  but 
subdued  expression.]  ^-^ 

I  am  not  eighty  —  only  sixty-three  —  but  I  am  work- 
ed down,  and  worn  out  with  hard  work.  Work  all 
the  time  in  the  South  —  in  Fauquier  county,  Va. 
When  I  began  work  in  the  morning,  I  could  usually 
see  a  little  red  in  the  east,  and  I  worked  till  ten  before 
eating:  at  two  I  would  eat  again,  and  then  work,  at 
some  seasons,  until  ten  at  night.  Then  I  would  have 
a  pint  of  meal  and  a  roasted  herring.  Tired  and  hun- 
gry—  tired  and  hungry,  —  the  slaves  are  obliged  to 
steal ;  they  are  so  hungry,  that  they  will  steal  whatever 
they  can  find  to  eat. 

I  could  generally  find  the  tobacco  worms  by  a  hole 
through  the  leaf.  But  in  the  heat  of  the  day,  they  get 
under  a  leaf  and  do  not  eat :  and  the  hands  passing 
along,  breaking  off  suckers,  don't  always  see  them; 
then  the  overseer  follows  along  behind  lookihg,  and  if 
he  finds  the  worm,  the  man  is  called  back  to  kill  it,  and 
he  gets  five  or  six  blows  from  the  hickory  or  cow-hide. 

In  hoeing  corn,  the  overseer  will  perhaps  stand  in  the 
shade  of  a  tree,  where  he  can  see  the  slaves;  if  they 


fil 


'>^.. 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAYERT. 


281 


slacken  work,  he  calls  out  to  hurry  them  up,  but  he  do  n't 
like  to  leave  the  shade  of  the  tree,  it  is  so  hot.  But 
sometimes,  if  a  man  drops  behind,  the  overseer  comes 
up,  gives  him  some  lashes,  and  then  goes  back  to  his 
tree. 

The  slaves  work  and  the  planter  gets  the  benefit  of 
it.  It  is  wrong  for  him  to  have  the  money  for  their 
labor,  and  if  a  man  goes  to  him  for  ten  cents,  to  be  re- 
fused. But  they  can't  prosper:  Providence  won't  let 
'era.  My  master  got  all  broke  up  at  last,  and  started 
with  his  slaves  for  Missouri.  I  have  a  wife  and  three 
children  that  belonged  to  another  master.  When  my 
master  was  about  moving,  the  man  that  owned  my 
family  came  to  him  and  said :  "  William  is  old,  and  his 
family  are  here ;  his  work  won't  amount  to  much  now. 
I  will  give  you  two  hundred  and  twenty  dollars  for 
him,  and  let  him  stay  with  his  family."  But  my  mas- 
ter cared  nothing  for  that.  "  I  can  get  that  out  of  him 
In  Missouri  in  three  years,"  says  he.  I  had  to  leave  my 
family  behind. 

When  we  got  to  Cincinnati,  he  put  all  the  slaves  but 
me  in  a  boat  and  kept  them  on  the  Kentucky  side.  I 
took  care  of  his  five  horses  on  board*  He  came  on 
board  just  at  night,  and  said,  "  Have  you  fed  the 
horses  ? "  "  Yes,  Mas'r."  "  I  want  you  to  stay  on 
board  and  look  out  for  the  horses,  for  I  can  put  more 
dependence  on  you  than  on  the  others.  Do  n't  leave 
the  boat,  nor  go  up  into  the  city  to-night,  for  there  are 
men  here  that  catch  all  the  niggers  they  can,  and  take 
them  to  New  Orleans :  so  be  sure,  do  n't  go  ashore."  I 
said,  "  No,  mas'r,"  —  but  that  no  meant  yes.  In  the 
evening,  while  he  was  on  the  other  side,  I  looked  for 
my  bag  of  clothes  which  I  had  left  on  the  top  of  every 
thing,  —  but  I  couldn't  find  it:  that  fellow  had  hid  it. 

24* 


Vt 


^****  ^i.4^, 


282 


THE  refugee:  OB  A 


I  searched  among  the  things,  but  I  could  n't  find  it  atfy 
where.  I  went  up  into  the  city  and  passed  a  great 
many  folks,  but  they  took  no  notice  of  me.  I  wanted 
to  find  some  abolitionists  or  quakers.  At  last,  I  snisr 
two  white  men  standing  together,  and  spoke  to  thern. 
They  were  friendly,  and  it  was  not  long  after  that,  I 
got  into  Canada. 

It  is  three  years  ago  that  I  l^ft  my  family,  and  I 
do  n't  know  whether  they  are  dead  or  alive.  I  want  to 
hear  from  them. 


li 


w 


MB. 


[The  name  and  former  residence  of  the  person  who  ftimished  the 
following  testimony  of  his  experience  as  a  slave,  and  his  present  doings 
as  a  free  i;nan,  are  suppressed,  on  account  of  the  circumstances  con- 
nected with  his  escape.  The  writer  has  suppressed  several  interesting 
narratives  and  parts  of  narratives  for  similar  reasons.] 

At  sixteen  years  of  age,  I  went  in  a  chain-gang  to 
Mississippi,  where  I  was  sold  and  taken  to  another 
State.  There  they  calculated  to  work  me  down.  Tak- 
ing my  shirt  off  and  whipping  me,  was  a  new  thing  to 
me  —  it  was  what  was  never  done  by  them  that  raised 
me.  Then 'twas  cut  on  some  two  or  three  hundred. 
Once  I  received  a  very  severe  whipping — the  colored 
people  told  me  it  was  two  hundred  —  with  the  paddle. 
I  had  no  friends  there.  The  colored  people  were  as 
eager  to  catch  me  as  the  whites.  I  wanted  to  find 
some  friend.  I  made  my  way  back  to  the  place  where 
I  was  raised,  and  saw  my  old  mistress  who  had  raised 
me  from  an  infant.    Her  second  husband,  while  I  was 


NOBTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  BLAVERT. 


^3 


stopping  around  there,  secreted,  me,  but  was  watching 
the  advertisments,  toiatjthe  reward  run  up  high,  so  as 
to  get  a  great  sum.  y)he  mistress  told  me  he  was  cal- 
culating to  pooljj^et  the  reward,  and  return  me  into  the 
hands  of  my  owners.  She  said  there  was  a  free  country, 
called  Canada :  she  gave  me  a  few  dollars,  and  told  rae 
to  follow  the  north  star.  If  it  was  too  dark  to  see  the 
north  star,  to  feel  of  the  trees,  and  on  that  side  where 
the  moss  was  longest,  was  my  way.  I  followed  her 
directions,  and  travelled  through  the  woods,  exposed  to 
wet  and  cold  and  starvation) 

On  my  way  I  was  caught  and  put  in  jail,  where  I 
was  kept  six  weeks.  They  could  find  no  master.  I 
was  hired  out  one  month.  They  calculated  to  keep  me 
twelve  months,  advertising  me,  in  hopes  my  owner  would 
appear.  I  was  again  hired  out,  on  the  second  mouth, 
to  a  drunken  dog,  —  but  I  had  learned  better  sense  than 
to  follow  the  plans  he  was  determined  on.  While  his 
guard  was  at  supper,  I  made  my  escape.  I  was  pur- 
sued the  next  day,  and  saw  my  pursuers,  but  they  did 
not  see  me  :  I  made  my  escape  by  hiding  in  the  brush. 
The  first  friend  I  met  was  a  white  man  at  last  —  an 
abolitionist.    He  kept  me  two  weeks  till  I  got  recruited. 

I  leased  a  piece  of  ground,  and  went  to  clearing  up. 
It  was  heavily  wooded.  I  have  cleared  four  acres,  and 
cut  it  into  cord-wood  ;  have  got  it  under  good  fence,  — 
have  raised  one  crop,  and  have  a  prospect  of  another. 
I  was  to  have  it  three  years  more  if  I  wished  —  if  I 
leave  it,  I  am  to  be  paid  for  my  improvements.  I  can 
understand  about  written  agreements,  but  do  not  know 
how  to  write,  and  have  suffered  losses  from  this  cause. 

Slavery  is  one  of  the  greatest  curses  that  ever  was. 
There  could  not  be  one  so  despised  in  the  siarht  of  God. 
I  believe  that  the  place  of  punishment  was  made  for 


v> 


284 


THE  refugee;  OB  A 


those  who  separate  husbands  and  wives,  and  traffic  in 
their  fellow  men :  killing  babes  —  1  have  seen  one  with 
its  brains  dashed  out  against  a  red  oak  tree.  Tired  of 
carrying  it,  its  mother  being  in  the  gafl^,  and  troubled 
with  it,  as  any  mian  would  be,  they  put  it  out  of  the 
way. 


ISAAC  GRIFFIN. 

I  am  from  Trimble  county,  Ky.  I  was  a  slave  in 
Kentucky  forty-six  years.  Then  I  had  $500  for  self, 
wife,  and  child.  I  left  eight  children  in  bondage,  ^ho 
undertook  to  escape.  The  oldest  got  here ;  the  others 
were  retaken,  and  sold  in  Texas. 

Two  years  ago,  I  saw  one  hundred  men  chained,  be- 
sides women  and  children,  going  down  south. 

I  ha^e  often  been  down  the  Mississippi  on  flat-boats, 
—  following  the  river  every  year  for  five  or  six  years. 
Mornings  I  would  hear  something  like  a  bell  —  it  is  a 
clock  though,  —  then  the  hands  have  to  rise ;  if  they 
do  n't,  the  overseer  is  among  them. 

Just  before  day,  the  first  time  I  went  down,  as  I  was 
floating  down  the  Grand  Gulf,  I  heard  the  whip  crack- 
ing, and  a  man  crying,  "Oh  Lord !  Oh  Lord !  Oh 
Lord!"  I  was  afraid  somebody  was  murdering:  I 
caiUed  my  master,  —  he  said,  "  Somebody  is  whipping 
his  slave."  We  had  to  put  in  there.  I  saw  the  man : 
he  was  put  over  a  log,  his  feet  tied,  and  his  hands  tied, 
and  a  rail  put  between.  They  would  whip  him,  and 
then  rest  upon  it.  They  flogged  him  off  and  on  until 
daylight.    His  back 

At  one  time  I  went  down  on  a  boat.    There  were 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


■'2^^ 


ifEc  in 
le  with 
ired  of 
roubled 
of  the 


slave  in 
for  8|elf, 
ige,  "V^^ho 
le  others 

ined,  be- 

tat-boats, 
ix  years. 
—  it  is  a 
;  if  they 


many  slaves  on  board,  and  one  yellow  girl  with  a  child. 
At  Natchez,  a  man  came  on  board  who  wanted  to  buy 
a  yellow  girl  without  children.  Her  master  told  her  to 
.say  she  had  none.  The  man  bought  her,  and  the  trader 
gave  her  child,  six  weeks  old,  to  a  white  woman. 

Slavery  is  the  greatest  curse  on  earth.  Nothing  ex- 
ceeds it  for  wickedness.  A  slave  in  the  South  suifers 
death  many  times  before  he  does  die. 

I  felt,  when  free,  as  light  as  a  feather  —  a  burden  was 
off  of  me.  I  could  get  up  and  go  to  my  work  without 
being  bruised  and  beaten.  The  worst  thought  was  for 
my  children,  —  what  they  might  have  to  go  through. 
I  cannot  hear  from  them. 

—  I  have  lived  in  Canada  one  year.  I  find  the  people 
laboring  well  generally:  as  industrious  as  any  men. 
The  law  is  the  same  for  one  as  another.  We  have  our 
meetings  and  gatherings  here,  and  have  no  trouble  at 
all. 

I  am  doing  as  well,  for  a  poor  man,  as  I  can  expect 

—  I  get  a  good  living. 


as  I  was 
lip  crack- 
;ord!  Oh 
iering:  I 
whipping 
the  man: 
ands  tied, 

him,  and 
1  on  until 

'here  were 


WILLIAM    STREET. 

I  am  from  Middle  Tennessee,  where  I  worked  as  a 
blacksmith,  another  man  taking  my  wages.  All  I  got 
was  my  victuals  and  clothes,  and  not  much  at  that. 
Twenty-five  years  I  was  a  slave,  —  was  bred  and  born 
a  slave,  and  cannot  read  or  write. 

My  mother  has  several  times  told  me  that  her  father 
was  sick,  and  his  mistress  drove  him  out  of  the  house, 
and  he  leaned  his  breast  over  the  fence  and  died.  She 
often  showed  me  the  place  where  he  died.     I  was  hired 


y 


286 


THB  refugeb;  or  a 


out  when  very  young — did  not  get  the  lash.  ItM^as 
never  "  Can  you  do  it?"  or  "  Will  you  do  it?"— but 
"  You  must  go  and  do  it."  Sometimes  I  would  do  a 
good  day's  work,  and  then  have  another  job  put  on  rate.* 
I  can't  paint  it  as  bad  as  it  is.  I  have  seen  a  man  at 
the  iron-works  —  Perkins's  —  who  said  he  did  not  be- 
lieve that  there  was  a  bit  of  skin  on  him  that  he  was 
born  with,  —  they  had  whipped  it  all  off. 

K  a  northern  man  were  to  go  right  into  a  slave  State, 
he  would  not  see  the  worst  of  slavery.  By  the  time  he 
was  up  in  the  morning,  the  slaves  would  be  a  mile  off 
—  he  would  see  but  little  of  the  evil  —  he  wouldn't  get 
to  see  it. 

My  master  died  when  I  was  seven ;  my  mistress  when 
I  was  twenty-five.  Then  we  were  divided  out :  I  fell 
to  a  son  who  lived  in  Mississippi.  I  had  been  living 
with  a  doctor  two  years,  and  I  asked  him  to  buy  me. 
But  my  master  wouldn't  sell  —  the  doctor  offered 
^1,100' for  me.  I  was  put  in  jail  five  days  —  I  and  my 
brother,  who  had  fallen  to  the  same  man,  were  there. 
Our  owner  came  in  with  irons  and  handcuffs,  and  put 
them  on,  and  took  us  to  the  blacksmith  to  have  them 
riveted.  I  left  two  men  in  the  jail  who  had  run  away 
from  Mississippi,  and  had  lain  there  eleven  months,  — 
in  one  month  to  be  sold.  One  of  them  was  a  great  fel- 
low to  pray :  I  'd  hear  him  praying  every  morning  for 
the  Lord  to  help  him.  He  said  he  wished  the  doctor 
would  buy  me.  The  rivets  were  fixed :  we  went  to 
Nashville,  and  were  put  on  board  a  steamboat,  I  and 
my  brother  chained  together.  They  were  loading  the 
boat,  which  takes  two  or  three  days.  I  heard  some  one 
tell  a  colored  man  to  pump  the  boilers  full,  and  they  'd 
put  out  in  the  morning.  I  said  to  my  brother,  "  When 
you  hear  me  say  to-night,  the  dog 's  dead,  then  we  'U  put 
out" 


#>. 


NORTH^StDB  VIEW  OV  SLAVSBT. 


287 


At  11  o'clock  we  laid  down.  I  made  believe  that 
something  ailed  me,  and  kept  going  out  By  and  by,  I 
said  "  the  dog 's  dead»^  We  crept  into  the  wheelhouse, 
and  down  on  the  wheel,  to  the  outside  of  the  guard,  and 
got  on  board  a  stone-coal  boat.  We  walked  eighteen 
miles  that  night,  —  but  we  were  not  a*  ay  yet  —  yet 
had  no  thought  about  Canada.  I  had  heard  of  it,  but 
had  no  thought  about  getting  to  it.  We  laid  down, 
meaning  to  stay  till  next  night. 

Two  men  went  out  to  hunt  partridges,  and  at  about 
one  o'clock  they  came  across  us.  "  What  are  you  doing 
here,  boys  1 "  We  had  broken  off  the  chains,  but  the 
handcuffs  were  on  each  of  us.  "  I  am  going  to  Colum- 
bia— didn't  you  see  that  wagon  with  the  boiler  on  it?" 
They  said,  "  Come,  go  this  way,"  and  one  threatened 
with  his  gun.  We  up  and  ran.  The  slaveholders  both 
followed  us.  We  ran  across  a  field  about  half  a  mile : 
when  we  got  across  there  was  a  mill  and  a  creek.  We 
ran  through  the  creek :  there  was  a  big  hill.  I  went 
one  side,  and  my  brother  the  other :  they  followed  after 
me.  I  stopped  and  hailed,  "  What  do  you  want  ? " 
They  thought  I  was  coming  in  to  give  up,  —  but  I 
passed  them  and  went  into  the  creek,  where  I  fell  down, 
and  got  wet  all  over.  I  crossed  at  the  mill ;  they  after 
me :  there  was  a  horse  tied  there,  and  there  were  several 
men  about  the  mill ;  one  a  colored  man,  who  had  the 
horse.  "  Can  I  take  your  horse  ?  "  "  No."  I  took  him 
any  how.  I  cut  the  bridle,  jumped  on,  and  started. 
Then  a  white  man  put  his  gun  over  a  tree  and  shot  me 
—  some  eight  or  ten  small  shot  went  in — they  are 
most  of  them  in  me  now.  The  horse  then  put  out  with 
me  —  then  I  was  shut  of  them.  They  had  no  horse — 
he  put  out  like  lightning  —  I  did  not  know  where  I  was 
going,  —  I  rode  two  miles,  got  off,  hitched  the  horse, 


u 


288 


tHE  msFtasB;  on  a 


and  went  away  and  left  him.  Thinks  I,  they've  ^he 
from  the  mill  now  —  I'll  go  back  and  get  my  clothed 
now,  —  I  had  left  them  in  my  hurry.  As  I  wen^<  back 
to  the  mill,  I  saw  them  and  took  them,  and  then  I  saw 
the  men  coming  back  from  pursuing  my  brother.  I 
heard  them  say,  "  Yonder  he  is !  yonder  he  is ! " '  I  ran 
to  an  open  field  where  there  was  a  little  grass,  and  laid 
down.  They  did  not  see  —  they  hunted  about  and  gave 
it  up^  then  I  went  to  an  old  house  that  had  hay  in  it, 
and  put  my  clothes  in  there.  I  then  walked  right  before 
the  door  of  a  house  where  were  slaves  at  work  —  no- 
body spoke  a  word  to  me.  After  I  got  through  them, 
I  saw  an  old  colored  man  with  a  wagon.  He  told  me, 
"  You  go  this  way,  and  when  they  come  I  '11  tell  'fern 
you  've  gone  that  way."  I  did  as  he  advised  me,  and 
got  into  a  tree  that  had  been  burned  out,  and  stayed  in 
it  till  night :  then  I  went  and  got  my  clothes,  and  started 
for  the  old  place  where  I  was  raised. 

I  weht  on  to  where  my  oldest  brother  lived  in  Ten- 
nessee, and  told  him  the  circumstances.  I  was  then 
told  to  go  into  the  barn-loft,  and  stay  there,  — >  I  did  — 
stayed  three  days  hid  in  the  wheat :  then  I  went  in  the 
woods,  and  stayed  eight  months  without  ever  going  into 
a  house,  —  from  Christmas  until  the  last  of  August. 
Then  my  owner  came  from  Mississippi,  with  a  man 
named  T— ,  who  brought  three  bloodhounds  along 
with  him.  A  white  man  who  saw  me  the  day  before, 
told  them  where  they  had  seen  me.  They  went  to  that 
place,  and  put  the  bloodhounds  on  my  tracki  I  had 
never  seen  a  bloodhound,  but  I  heard  them,  alid.  I  spoke 
to  myself ;  says  I,  "  I  'm  gone."  I  had  a  pistol,  a  big 
stick,  and  a  big  knife.  Then  I  ran  out  of  the  corn  field 
into  a  little  skirt  of  woods,  and  the  bloodhounds  got 
over  the  fence  when  I  did.    I  wheeled  and  shot  one  of 


NORTH-SIOB  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


2S9 


e  gone 
clothed 
ji  back 
1 1  saw 
cher.    I 
'   I  ran 
ind  laid 
ad  gave 
ay  in  it, 
t  before 
k  —  no- 
fa  them, 
bold  me, 
tell  4m 
me,  and 
itayed  in 
1  started 

in  Ten- 
vas  then 
.Idid  — 
nt  in  the 
Qing  into 

August. 
1  a  man 
ds  along 
ly  before, 
it  to  that 
I  had 
d.  I  spoke 
tol,  a  big 
corn  field 

iinrln    got 

5t  one  of 


them  through  and  through.  He  never  got  away  from 
the  place  at  all.  I  got  back  to  the  corn  field,  the  others 
both  with  me  in  the  field ;  one  hold  of  my  wrist,  the 
other  of  my  leg.  I  have  the  marks  —  here  they  are  on 
my  wrist.  I  struck  at  the  dog  with  my  knife  a  number 
of  times  —  but  he  dodged  every  time.  Then  my  mas- 
ter came  up  with  a  pistol,  and  said  if  I  did  'nt  stand, 
he'd  put  a  ball  through  me.  T—  came  up  and 
struck  me  with  a  hickory  stick  five  or  six  blows,  on  the 
back  of  my  neck.  I  cried,  "  Oh  Lord !  Oh  Lord ! "  then 
T  made  the  dogs  let  go.     He  then  took  out  his 

handcuffs  and  chains,  and  put  them  on,  and  took  me  to 
a  blacksmith's,  to  have  them  riveted,  putting  in  another 
chain  between  the  cuffs,  to  make  'em  strong,  so  I 
could  n't  get  away  anyhow. 

They  concluded  I  must  know  where  my  youngest 
brother  was,  but  I  did  not  and  could  not  tell  them  any 
thing  about  it.  They  did  n't  believe  that.  I  was  stand- 
ing up ;  a  great  many  gathered  round  to  see  me :  I  was 

chewing  tobacco.      T said,  "  G —  d —  you,  quit 

chewing  tobacco,  and  tell  us  where  your  brother  is,  for 
I  know  you  know."  Some  fellow  asked  niy  master 
what  he  was  going  to  do  with  me,  —  he  said  he  was 

going  to  give  me  up  to  T ",  because  I  had  killed  the 

bloodhound,  —  T  would  n't  have  taken  five  hundred 

dollars  for  him ;  said  "  he  was  worth  more  than  him, 
d — n  him,"  He  was  the  fastest  one  they  had ;  before 
they  brought  them  from  Mississippi,  they  had  caught  a 
man  and  torn  out  his  entrails,  —  T  told  me  so  him- 
self. They  kept  me  going  round  from  that  day,  Tues- 
day, to  Friday,  trying  to  find  ray  brother, — chaining 
me  to  the  bedstead  at  night.  Thursday  morning  they 
thought  they  had  heard  of  him ;  went  eighteen  miles 
to  Shelbyville.    A  great  many  went  with  them  for  the 

25 


V| 


290 


NORTH-SIDE  VIBW  OF  SLAVERT. 


/ 


fan  of  the  thing.  This  was  in  the  beginning  of  S^j> 
tember,  1851. 

I  was  now  at  the  old  place  where  I  was  bred,  and 
was  left  with  master's  brother«in'law,  in  his  care.  At 
three  o'clocit,  the  brother  had  some  sheep  to  shear :  he 
took  me  into  the  stable,  put  on  shackles,  and  took  off 
my  handcuH's,  so  I  could  shear.     After  dinner,  said  I, 

"  Mr.  E ,  won't  you  give  me  some  grease,  if  you 

please,  to  grease  my  boots  ?  "  "  Oh,  yes."  I  went  into 
the  kitchen  where  my  mother  had  lived,  close  by,  and 
thought  over  all  things  that  had  passed  before.  Pretty 
soon  he  told  me  to  fill  a  kettle  with  water.  The  kettle 
was  some  fifty  yards  from  the  house  ;  there  were  some 
six  men  on  the  piazza,  who  could  watch  me.  I  filled 
the  kettle.  "  Did  you  see  my  boys  ?  "  says  he.  I  told 
him,  "  Yes  —  behind  the  barn."  The  barn  was  further 
off  than  the  kettle.  "  Shall  I  go  and  tell  them  to  make 
a  fire  about  the  kettle?"  Says  he,  "Yes."  They 
wanted  to  kill  a  shoat  against  the  folks  got  home  with 
my  brother.  I  stepped  to  the  barn  to  tell  them;  I 
looked  round,  —  no  one  was  looking.  I  told  them. 
They  all  started  for  wood,  etc.  I  looked  up  to  the  sun, 
and  said  to  myself,  "  it 's  three  o'clock."  I  threw  my 
boots  over  a  stump,  and  drew  them  so  I  could  run,  I 
kept  my  boots,  and  ran  off  to  Canada.  .... 

It  is  above  my  language  to  tell  how  overjoyed  I  was 
on  getting  into  Canada.  Nothing  harasses  a  man  so 
much  as  slavery.  There  is  nothing  under  the  sun  so 
mean  :  after  a  man  is  dead,  they  won't  let  him  rest.  It 
is  a  horrible  thing  to  think  of,  the  ignorance  slaves  are 
brought  up  in.  There  is  not  a  man  born,  who  can  rep- 
resent slavery  so  bad  as  it  is. 

I  work  here  at  blacksmithing :  I  own  this  shop.  I 
have  plenty  of  work,  and  good  pay. 


V. 


w 

f  Sep- 

id,  and 
e.  At 
sar:  he 
:ook  off 

said  I) 

if  you 
mi  into 
by,  and 

Pretty 
le  kettle 
ire  some 

I  filled 
,  I  told 
8  further 
to  make 
'  They 
•me  with 
them;  I 
Id  them. 

the  sun, 
hrew  my 
lid  run,  I 

red  I  was 
L  man  so 
le  sun  80 
1  rest.  It 
slaves  are 
D  can  rep- 

\  shop.    I 


BUXTON. 


The  Elgin  Settlement,  or,  as  it  is  more  commonly 
called.  King's  Settlement,  is  in  Buxton,  in  the  town- 
ship of  Raleigh,  county  of  Kent.  The  colored  popula- 
tion of  Buxton  numbers  eight  hundred.  Nearly  all 
the  adults  have,  at  some  time,  been  slaves,  but  many 
resided  in  the  free  States  before  entering  Canada. 

King's  Settlement  comprises  nine  thousand  acres  of 
land,  —  a  tract  some  six  miles  in  length,  by  three  in 
breadth,  — and  is  situated  between  the  Great  Western 
Railway  and  Lake  Erie :  its  boundary  being  about  a 
mile  and  one  fourth  from  the  lake  shore.  A  company 
has  been  chartered  by  the  Provincial  Legislature,  for 
the  purpose  of  constructing  a  railroad  to  connect  Ni- 
agara with  Amherstburg.  This  road  is  to  pass  through 
the  southern  portion  of  the  settlement,  and  will  afford  a 
ready  market  for  all  the  firewood,  of  which  there  is 
abundance  on  the  lands. 

The  settlement  at  Buxton,  was  first  projected  by  the 
Rev.  Wm.  King  in  1849.  Mr.  King  was  formerly  a 
slaveholder  in  Louisiana ;  but  not  being  "  to  the  man- 
ner born,"  he  manumitted  his  own  slaves,  about  four- 
teen in  number,  (for  whom  he  had  been  offered  nine 
thousand  dollars,)  and  brought  them  with  him  to  Can- 
ada, where  he  settled  them  on  farms  or  on  lands  recently 
purchased  of  the  government.  From  long  acquaint- 
ance with  the  colored  people  in  the  South,  and  from 

(291) 


293 


THB  rbfuqeb;  or  a 


their  previous  historyf  Mr.  King  was  satisfied,  that, 
when  placed  in  favorable  circumstances,  they  could 
g|]}>port  themselves  as  well  as  the  emigrants  from  Eu- 
rope, and  would  be  capeble  of  making  the  same  prog- 
ress in  education.  The  colored  people  and  their  friends 
owe  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  Mr.  King,  for  having  suc- 
cessfully conducted  the  experiment  at  Buxton. 

In  furtherance  of  Mr.  King's  views,  an  a^^sociation 
was*Vformed  in  Upper  Canada  by  di^ -i  lei^nns  resi- 
dent therein,  under  the  name  of  iUo.  >4f.0x.:  iiSSOClA- 
TION,  for  the  settlement  and  moml  iicpri'  'ement  of  the 
colored  population  of  Canada  i>».-  the  purpose  of  pur- 
chasing Crown  or  Clergy  Reserve  Land»,  in  the  town- 
ship of  Raleigh,  and  settling  the  same  with  colored 
families  resident  in  Canada,  of  approved  moral  charac- 
ter." The  association  under  the  above  style  and  de- 
scription was  incorporated  on  the  10th  of  August,  1850. 

The  land  is  divided  into  farms  of  fifty  acres  each, 
and  so  situated  that  a  road  runs  past  each  man's  farm. 
The  houses  are  set  thirty-three  feet  from  this  road, 
facing  streets,  so  that  the  whole  settlement,  when  clear- 
ed up  and  opened,  will  present  a  uniform  appearance. 
The  land  is  sold  to  the  settlers  at  $2.50  per  acre,  the 
government  price,  and  is  paid  in  ten  equal  annual  in- 
stalments, with  interest  at  the  rate  of  6  per  cent.  But 
although  ten  years  were  allowed  to  the  settlers  to  pay 
for  their  fanrs,  a  number  have  taken  out  their  deeds 
already;  ancJ  '  .  r.;  13  no  donbt  th^it  before  the  ten 
years  shall  1  ..]    td,  eac„  &ettler  will  have  his  deed 

in  possession  :  for  which  he  will  be  indebted  to  his  own 
exertions  —  since  the  settlers  receive  no  money,  no 
grants  of  land,  no  farming  implements,  —  nothing  but 
protection  and  advice.  Whatever  they  have  is  pur- 
chased by  themselves,  and  as  far  as  the  supply  cf  their 


NORTU-SIDB  VIEW  OF  SLAVERT. 


293 


,  that, 
could 
►m  Eu- 
e  prog- 
friends 

Dg  BUO- 

)ciation 
)n9  resl- 

iSSOCIA- 

t  of  the 
of  pur- 
e  town- 
coloted 
i  charac- 
and  de- 
ist, 1850. 
•es  each, 
n's  farm, 
lis  road, 
len  clear- 
pearance. 
acre,  the 
niiual  in- 
mt.    But 
irs  to  pay 
leir  deeds 
3  the  ten 
B  his  deed 
o  his  own 
loney,    no 
)thing  but 
vo  is  pur- 
)ly  of  their 


physical  wants    is    concerned,  they  are  self-support- 
ing. 

The  houses  in  the  settlement  are  built  of  logs,  after 
a  model  prescribed  by  thr  Improvement  Committee. 
Tne  model  was  18  feet  by  24,  and  12  feet  in  height, 
with  a  gallery  running  tho  whole  length  of  the  front 
While  no  house  was  allowed  to  go  up  inferior  to  the 
model,  the  settlers  were  allowed  to  hui,  1  aa  much  bet- 
ter as  they  pleased.  The  first  actual  se.  ler  entered  in 
December,  1849. 

The  third  annual  report  of  the  din  tors,  -September, 
1852,  says,  "  The  number  of  families  o  olofid  persohs 
settled  on  the  lands  of  the  associ  tion  )  to  August  1, 
1852,  is  75  —  and  the  number  of  mhabivants  00.  By 
these  settlers  not  fewer  than  50  hoUB^n  have  been 
erected.  Besides  the  regular  occupants,  i. 
lies  of  colored  people,  attracted  by  the  ■ 
the  settlement,  have  purchased  lands  in  it 
proximity.  Including  these  100  colored  fai. 
500  individuals  are  now  comfortably  set^p'i  on  their 
own  property  in  that  district.  Tlie  numb*  of  acres 
cleared  on  the  Elgin  grounds  to  August  1,  i.  >50;  and 
204  of  those  have  been  under  crop  this  sea»o«i.  The 
land  is  best  adapted  for  the  culture  of  wheat ;  but  it 
also  produces  corn,  toijacco,  and  hemp,  equal  >  any 
that  is  grown  in  the  Western  States.  With  regard  to 
the  moral  state  of  the  p<  ople,  sobriety  is  so  general  that 
no  case  of  drunkennes  has  occurred ;  and  as  a  guar- 
anty for  peace  among  th  -  settlers,  a  court  of  arbitration 
has  been  set  up,  before  \\  hich  five  cases  only  have  been 
brought,  which  were  decided  easily  and  amicably,  and 
without  expense  to  either  party.  The  day  school  has 
73  on  the  roll ;  the  attendance  is  good,  and  the  number 
increasing*     About  20  of  the  present  number  are  the 

25* 


it  2'5  fa  mi- 
nt!! ges  of 

immediate 
Mes,  about 


M-l 


294 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


\\ 


IIP"    " 


children  of  white  parents.  The  Sabbath  school  has  63 
attending  it.  The  church,  which  is  supplied  by  Rev. 
Mr.  King,  the  indefatigable  and  able  missionary  to  the 
Elgin  settlement,  is  attended  by  from  100  to  140 
persons ;  and  the  desire  for  the  administration  of  the 
word  and  ordinances  seems  to  be  on  the  increase.  A 
Latin  class  was  opened  last  November,  which  is  at- 
tended by  6  colored  youths ;  and  it  is  hoped  that  some 
of  them  may  be  found  qualified  for  teaching  their  breth- 
ren, or  for  filling  the  office  of  the  Christian  ministry." 

Mr.  King  is  chiefly  paid  by  the  Home  Mission  Com- 
mittee of  the  Presbyterian  (Free)  Church  of  Canada, 
which  has  always  borne  testimony  against  the  evils  of 
slavery.  \\ 

The  fourth  annual  report  of  the  directors,  made  in 
September,  1853,  states :  "  Up  to  this  time,  130  families 
have  settled  on  the  lands  of  the  association,  and  im- 
proved farms  in  the  neighborhood :  these  families  con- 
tain 520  persons  in  all.  500  acres  are  cleared  and  un- 
der fence ;  1 35  cut  down  and  partially  cleared-  Of  the 
cleared  land,  236  acres  are  in  corn ;  60  acres  in  wheat ; 
29  in  oats,  and  90  in  other  crops :  making  in  all  415 
acres  under  cultivation.  The  number  of  cattle  in  the 
settlement  is  128.  There  are  15  horses,  30  sheep,  and 
250  hogs.  The  temperance  principle  is  strictly  acted 
on  through  the  whole  settlement,  —  no  intoxicating 
drinks  being  either  manufactured  or  sold.  The  Sab- 
baith  is  generally  observed;  and  most  of  the  settlers 
attend  some  place  of  worship.  The  number  of  chil- 
dren at  the  day  school  is  112 ;  at  the  Sabbath  school, 
80.  They  were  all  improving,  both  in  secular  and 
scriptural  knowledge :  a  number  of  the  more  advanced 
pupils  were  studying  Latin,  with  a  view  to  future  use- 
fulness.'' 


/! 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


m 


The  fifth  annual  report,  September,  1854,  shows  that 
the  settlement  was  making  good  progress.  It  informs 
us,  that  "several  houses  have  been  built  during  the 
past  year  far  above  the  model,  and  one  person  has  con- 
tracted for  a  brick  cottage,  the  first  on  the  lands  of  the 
Association ;  [this  has  since  been  completed ;]  others, 
both  of  brick  and  frame,  will  be  erected  in  a  few  years. 
The  clay  on  the  land  is  found  to  make  excellent  K  *  ?k: 
250,000  have  been  made  during  the  last  year,  ana  the 
same  number  will  be  furnished  during  the  next  year. 
About  150  families  are  on  the  association  lands  and 
farms  in  the  neighborhood ;  77  houses  have  been  built 
after  the  model,  most  of  them  inclosed  with  a  picket 
fence  and  whitewashed :  8  are  above  the  model.  The 
rest  are  making  arrangements  to  have  their  houses  put 
up  during  the  ensuing  year.  The  number  of  acres 
cleared  and  under  fence  is  726 ;  the  number  chopped 
down  and  ready  for  clearing  is  174.  Of  the  cleared 
land,  334  are  in  corn,  95  in  wheat,  48  in  oats,  and  100 
in  other  crops,  making  in  all  577  acres  under  crop. 
This  shows  an  increase  over  last  year  of  cleared  land, 
226  acres ;  and  of  crops,  162.  The  number  of  cows 
and  oxen  is  150;  of  horses,  38;  of  sheep,  25;  and  of 
hogs,  700.  The  health  of  the  settlement  continues 
good;  peace  and  harmony  reign  among  the  people. 
The  Sabbath  is  strictly  kept  as  a  day  of  rest.  Tem- 
perance prevails ;  nothing  that  intoxicates  is  made  or 
sold  in  the  settlement.  The  schools  and  church  Me 
well  attended ;  147  are  on  the  roll  in  the  day  school ; 
120  in  the  Sabbath  school.  Progress  has  been  made  in 
secular  and  scriptural  knowledge.  The  population  has 
increased  so  fast  during  the  last  year,  that,  one  school 
failing  to  accommodate  all,  the  residents  in  the  north- 
&n  part  of  the  settlement,  anxious  that  their  children 


./ 


296 


THE  befuqee;  or  a 


should  receive  education,  have  erected  a  neat  school- 
house  at  their  own  expense,  with  a  view  of  getting  a 
teacher  for  it,  at  least  six  months  in  the  year." 

The  value  of  the  oak  timber  on  the  lands  of  the  As- 
sociation has  been  estimated  by  good  judges  at  $57,000; 
of  the  maple,  hickory,  etc.,  at  $70,000.  Lumber,  how- 
ever, has  hitherto  been  of  little  avail  to  the  settlers,  for 
want  of  a  saw-mill  and  a  market.  A  steam  saw-mill 
was,  however,  completed,  and  ready  for  operation  on 
the  4th  of  July,  1855  :  and  a  plank  road  is  contemplat- 
ed, which,  extending  eight  miles  from  the  Great  West- 
ern Railway  to  the  Lake,  will  give  the  settlers  two 
markets  —  one  on  the  Lake,  and  another  on  the  Rail- 
road. \\ 

The  annual  report  for  1855,  states  that  "  the  colored 
population  have  manifested  a  more  fixed  determination 
to  raise  from  the  soil  what  will  support  themselves  and 
their  families,  without  going  abroad  to  work,  a  part  of  the 
year,  for  money  to  purchase  the  necessaries  and  comforts 
of  life.  ....  Nearly  all  the  settlers  have  made  a  steady 
advance  in  clearing  and  cropping :  the  quantity  of  land 
clear  and  under  fence  is  827  acres,  besides  216  acres 
that  have  been  chopped  down,  and  will  be  ready  to  put 
in  fall  and  spring  crops.  Of  the  land  cleared,  180  acres 
have  been  sown  with  wheat ;  340  with  corn ;  50  with 
potatoes ;  40  with  oats ;  and  200  with  hay,  buckwheat, 
and  turnips.  Besides  these  crops,  there  is  a  considerable 
quantity  of  tobacco,  —  the  leaf  of  which  is  said  by  com- 
petent judges  to  be  equal  in  quality  to  any  raised  in  Vir- 
ginia and  Kentucky During  the  past  year,  but 

little  has  been  done  in  raising  stock.  It  has  been  found 
that  sheep  and  horses  cannot  be  raised  with  much  profit, 
till  there  is  more  open  land,  and  more  hay  to  support 
them  during  the  winter.    The  number  of  cows  in  the 


school- 
itting  a 

he  As- 
57,000; 
ir,  how- 
lers, for 
aw-mill 
tlon  on 
emplat- 
b  West- 
ers two 
le  Rail- 

\ 
colored 

[lination 

Ives  and 

irt  of  the 

3oniforts 

a  steady 

J  of  land 

16  acres 

ly  to  put 

L80  acres 

50  with 

ckwheat, 

isiderable 

I  by  com- 

3d  in  Vir- 

year,  but 

;en  found 

ich  profit, 

o  support 

vs  in  the 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


297 


settlement  is  140 ;  of  oxen,  50 ;  of  horses,  40 ;  of  sheep, 
38 ;  and  of  hogs,  600.  ....  The  improvement  in  the 
buildings  has  not  made  the  same  progress  this  year  as 
last.  Several  buildings  after  the  model,  have  gone  up, 
and  some  above  the  model,  but  none  of  them  have 
tjeen  finished  for  want  of  lumber.  That  difficulty  will 
now  be  obviated.  A  good  saw  and  grist-mill  has  been 
erected.  The  saw  now  supplies  abundance  of  lumber 
for  the  settlement :  so  that,  during  the  next  year,  there 
is  a  prospect  of  having  more  houses  finished  than  dur- 
ing any  one  year  since  the  settlement  commenced 

One  hundred  and  fifty  children  have  been  going  to 
school  during  the  last  year;  and  some  of  them  have 
made  considerable  progress  in  the  higher  branches  of 
education The  health  and  morality  of  the  set- 
tlement continue  good." 

The  settlers  at  Buxton  are  characterized  by  a  manly, 
independent  air  and  manner.  Most  of  them  came  into 
the  province  stripped  of  every  thing  but  life.  They 
have  purchased  homes  for  themselves,  paid  the  price 
demanded  by  government,  erected  their  own  buildings, 
and  supported  their  own  familLas  by  their  own  indus- 
try; receiving  no  aid  whatever  from  any  benevolent 
society,  but  carefully  excluding  donations  of  any  kind 
from  coming  into  the  settlement. 

Mr.  King  having  full  faith  in  the  natural  powers,  ca- 
pacity, and  capabilities  of  the  African  race,  is  practically 
working  out  his  belief,  by  placing  the  refugees  in  cir- 
cumstances where  they  may  learn  self-reliance,  and 
maintain  a  perfect  independence  of  aid :  trusting,  under 
God,  on  their  own  right  arm. 

A  few  testimonials  from  residents  of  Buxton  are 
appended.  Those  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Riley  are  the 
most  favorable  to  the  "peculiar"  institution,  of  any 


298 


THB  refugee;  or  a 


that  the  writer  listened  to  in  Canada  —  and  yet  thiey 
tell  against  slavery  with  tremendous  force.  Compara- 
tively well  treated  as  was  Mrs.  R.,  she  was  yet  urged 
by  a  young  white  man  to  make  her  escape  from  "  dark- 
ness," and  from  evils  which  impended  over  her. 


ISAAC   RILEY. 

In  Perry  county,  Missouri,  where  I  was  raised,  I  never 
saw  an  overseer,  nor  a  negro-trader,  nor  driver,  nor  any 
abuse,  such  as  is  practised  in  other  places.  I  've  neVer 
seen  any  separations  of  families.  I  always  from  a  small 
boy  meant  to  be  free  at  some  day.  After  I  had  a  son, 
it  grieved  me  to  see  some  small  boys  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, who  were  hired  out  to  work  twenty  miles  from 
home.  ,  I  looked  at  my  boy,  and  thought  if  he  remained, 
he  would  have  to  leave  us  in  the  same  way,  and  grow 
up  in  ignorance.  It  appeared  to  me  cruel  to  keep  him 
ignorant. 

I  escaped  with  my  wife  and  child  to  Canada. 
Among  the  French  near  Windsor,  I  got  small  wages  — 
2s.  or  Is.  6d.  a  day,  York :  and  morning  and  night  up 
to  my  knees  in  water,  —  still  1  preferred  this  to  abun- 
dance in  slavery.  I  crossed  over  and  got  work  and  bet- 
ter pay  in  Michigan.  They  would  have  liked  to  have 
me  remain,  and  offered  to  build  a  house  for  me.  But  I 
did  not  feel  free  in  Michigan,  and  did  not  remain.  I 
went  to  St.  Catharines,  and  got  fifty  cents  a  day.  By 
and  by,  I  heard  of  Mr.  King's  settlement,  —  I  came 
here,  and  have  got  along:  well.  My  children  can  get 
good  learning  here. 


V 


NORTH-SIDE  VIllW  OP  SLAVERY. 


299 


;t  they 
mpara- 
;  urged 
"  dark- 


,  I  never 
nor  any 
^e  ne^er 
.  a  small 
id  a  son, 
leighbor- 
les  from 
jmained, 
nd  grow 
teep  him 

Canada, 
wages  — 
night  up 
to  abun- 

and  bet- 
i  to  have 
B.    But  I 

main.  I 
day.  By 
—  I  came 
can  get 


MRS.  ISAAC   RILEY. 

I 'Was  born  in  Maryland,  and  raised  in  Perry  County, 
Mo.  Where  I  was  raised,  the  treatment  was  kind.  I 
used  to  hear  of  separations  of  families,  but  never  saw 
any.  I  never  saw  the  lash  used,  nor  the  paddle,  nor 
ever  heard  of  the  abuse  of  slaves  until  I  came  into  Can- 
ada. I  see  many  here,  who  have  suffered  from  hard 
treatment,  and  who  have  seen  it  practised  on  others, — 
but  I  never  saw  an  overseer,  nor  a  negro-trader  in  my 
life ;  if  I  did,  I  did  n't  know  it.  I  never  knew  any  thing 
about  places  they  call  "the  quarters,"  in  my  life.  I 
could  not  go  when  I  pleased,  nor  come  when  I  pleased, 
but  was  sometimes  allowed  to  go  out  without  a  pass 
ten  or  twelve  miles  from  home.  I  was  never  stopped 
on  my  way  by  patrols  —  never  heard  about  such  things 
where  I  was  raised.  I  was  never  sent  to  school,  —  but 
my  master,  who  had  owned  my  mother,  and  raised  me 
from  the  cradle,  was  very  kind,  and  taught  me  to  read 
and  spell  some,  —  but  not  to  write. 

I  used  often  to  think  that  I  would  like  to  be  as  free 
as  the  white  people  were.  I  often  told  them,  when 
they  made  me  angry,  that  they  had  no  more  business 
with  me,  than  I  had  with  them. 

My  master  was  very  particular  about  my  having 
clothing  and  food  enough.  When  I  first  came  to  Can- 
ada, the  colored  people  seemed  cold  and  indifferent  to 
each  other ;  and  so  it  was  with  the  white  people  and  the 
colored.  It  seemed  as  if  the  white  people  did  not  want 
to  speak  to  us.  I  took  this  very  much  to  heart,  for 
where  I  grew  up,  the  white  people  talk  freely  to  their 
neighbors'  colored  people.^^^  I  felt  so  about  it,  that  if 


^iw***-"'^ 


300 


THE  refugbe;  or  a 


mm. 


ffl 


:!;;ii 


they  had  come  for  me,  I  would  have  gone  back  wil- 
lingly. 

In  Missouri,  when  my  first  child  was  young,  up  jto 
seventeen  months  old,  when  I  left,  I  had  no  care  of  it, 
except  to  nurse  it,  —  the  white  people  took  all  the  <Jare 
of  it. 

For  two  years  before  I  left,  my  husband  talked  of 
coming  to  Canada.  I  felt  no  desire  for  leaving.  But 
[a  young  man,  a  relative  of  my  master]  often  per- 
suaded me  to  leave  for  Canada,  —  and  he  talked  with 
a  great  deal  of  reason.  He  said  he  would  not,  if  he 
were  I,  bring  my  boy  up  to  be  a  slave :  "  you  do  n*t 
know,"  he  would  say,  "  how  long  [the  old  gentleman] 
may  live,  —  and  when  he  dies,  you  may  come  under 
altogether  different  treatment."  At  last,  when  there 
was  a  camp-meeting,  I  told  my  husband  we  had  better 
leave,  as  it  might  be  so  by  and  by,  that  we  could  not 
leave  at  all.  We  left,  and  made  a  long  camp-meeting 
of  it. 

We  crossed  over  at  Windsor,  and  had  rather  hard 
v/^  time^.  about  Potico,  among  the  French, -;;;^Jhere 's 
where  the  people  seemed  so  distant.  I  thought  if  Can- 
ada was  all  like  that  place,  it  was  a  hard  place.  We 
stayed  there  a  few  months,  and  went  to  St.  Catherines, 
where  we  did  better.  After  a  while,  we  heard  that  Mr. 
King  was  buying  a  place  to  settle  the  colored  people. 
We  came  up  here  before  it  was  surveyed,  and  Mr,  Riley 
helped  the  surveyors.  He  took  one  hundred  acres  of 
land,  and  we  are  well  contented.  If  I  do  not  live  to 
see  it,  perhaps  my  children  will,  that  this  will  one  day 
be  a  great  place. 

My  two  oldest  children  go  to  school.  The  oldest  is 
well  along,  and  studies  Latin  and  Greek. 


mu  _     _j.i 

XUM    VllVCt 


'ilm 


ick  wil- 

f>  «P  to 
^re  of  it, 

the  <Sare 

» 

;alked  of 
ig.  But 
ten  per- 
ied  with 
ot,  if  he 
)u  do  n't 
itleman] 
le  under 
len  there 
ad  better 
pould  not 
i-meeting 

her  hard 
-there  'a 
t  if  Can- 
,ce.  We 
itherines, 

that  Mr. 
id  people. 
Mr.  Riley 

acres  of 
ot  live  to 
I  one  day 

3  oldest  is 
he  other 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


301 


three  are  not  old  enough  to  go  to  school.  We  have 
good  schools  here,  —  music  and  needlework  are  taught. 
I  think  my  present  condition  here  far  preferable  to 
what  it  would  have  been  in  slavery.  There  we  were 
in  darkness,  —  here  we  are  in  light.  My  children  also 
would  have  grown  up,  had  I  remained  there,  in  igno- 
rance and  darkness. 


HARRY  THOMAS. 

I  was  born  in  Brunswick,  partly  raised  in  Southamp- 
ton, ten  miles  below  Bethlehem,  Virginia.     Was  then 

bought  by  a  "  nigger-trader,"  J B ,  and  was 

sold  to  J S ,  in  South  Carolina.  The  treat- 
ment there  was  barbarous.  At  sixteen  years  old,  they 
gave  me  a  task,  splitting  rails,  which  I  did  in  the  time, 
then  went  to  take  my  rest.  His  wife  was  harder  than 
he  was,  —  she  told  me  to  make  lights  in  the  road,  set- 
ting fire  to  rubbish,  it  being  a  new  place.  I  got  through 
at  ten  o'clock :  boss  came  home,  I  went  in  again.  She 
ordered  me  to  put  on  water  to  scour  the  floors,  etc.  I 
would  n't,  —  I  went  over  to  her  father's  "  nigger-house  " 
all  night.  Next  morning,  the  master  came  for  me,  took 
me  home,  stripped  me  stark  naked,  made  a  paddle  of 
thick  oak  board,  lashed  me  across  a  pine  log,  secured 
my  hands  and  feet,  and  whipped  me  with  the  paddle. 
His  little  boy  saw  it  and  cried,  —  he  cursed  him  away, 
—  his  wife  came,  —  he  cursed  her  away.  He  whipped 
till  he  broke  the  paddle.  After  that,  he  took  me  to  the 
house,  and  hit  me  with  a  hickory  stick  over  the  head 
and  shoulders,  a  dozen  times  or  more  {  then  he  got  salt 
and  water,  and  a  corn  cob,  and  scrubbed  me.     Then 

26 


302 


THE  refuoeb;  or  a 


\^ 


he  sent  me  to  water  the  hogs,  naked  as  I  was,  in  Janu- 
ary. I  ran  into  the  woods,  and  went  back  to  the  same 
house,  and  the  colored  people  gave  me  some  old  rags  to 
keep  me  from  freezing. 

I  recovered  from  that  beating,  and  at  length  ran 
away  again,  because  he  refused  to  let  me  go  to  see 
my  friends.  I  was  caught  by  a  colored  man,  who  took 
me  to  my  master's  step-father's,  —  he  whipped  me  till 
he  was  satisfied,  then  master  came,  and  whipped  me 
with  a  leather  strap.  I  ran  right  off  again  ;  was  caught 
and  put  in  a  potato  house.  After  that  I  v^as  put  in  the 
field  to  knock  along  the  best  way  I  could,  but  I  was 
not'kble  to  work. 

My  master  removed  to  Mississippi,  taking  me  with 
him,  the  year  before  Gen.  Jackson  commenced  fighting 
the  Creek  Indians. 

This  big  scar  on  my  left  cheek,  I  got  in  a  runaway 
scrape.  A  man  who  got  up  with  me,  jobbed  me  with 
the  muzzle  of  a  gun,  which  knocked  me  back  into  the 
mud :  then  he  tied  me.  That  time,  I  received  three 
hundred  lashes ;  one  of  the  slaves  who  helped  tie  me, 
fainted  at  seeing  me  so  abused.     I  have  a  cut  with  a 

knife  made  by  J S after  I  had  worked  for  him 

all  day,  because  he  could  not  flog  me,  as  he  liked. 

I  staid  awhile,  then  ran  away  again,  —  then  a  man 
caught  me,  and  another  came  with  him  home,  who 
wished  to  buy  me.  I  was  a  smart-looking  boy  —  he 
offered  one  thousand  dollars  for  me  remaster  wouldn't 
sell.     For  running  away,  1  received  a  hundred  lashes 

on  the  barfe  back.     I  was  then  sold  to  his  cohsin,  J 

Y- ,  in  Mississippi.     I  lived  with  him  ten  years ;  I 

suppose  I  must  have  been  about  thirty-two.  At  first, 
Y.'s  treatment  was  fair.  I  was  foreman.  He  got  rich, 
and  grew  mean,  and  I  left  him.    I  was  caught  and 


in  Janu- 
he  same 
1  rags  to 

igth  ran 

0  to  see 
vho  took 

1  me  till 
pped  me 
IS  caught 
)ut  in  the 
out  I  was 

me  With 
d  fighting 

L  runaway 
i  me  with 
;k  into  the 
Lved  three 
id  tie  me, 
cut  with  a 
ed  for  him 
iked. 

len  a  man 
bme,  who 
boy  —  he 
r  would  n't 
Ired  lashes 

isin,  J 

;n  years ;  I 
At  first, 
;e  got  rich, 
5aught  and 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


303 


taken  back  again,  "^^e  took  me  to  the  blacksmith's 
shop  and  had  a  ring  uiade  of  axe-bar  iron,  which  I  wore 
on  my  right  leg  from  the  middle  of  May  to  the  middle 
of  September.  I  worked  with  it  on,  and  slept  with  it 
on,  all  that  time. 

After  he  got  it  off,  I  worked  awhile, — again  I  went 
off,  went  into  Alabama,  was  out  from  October  to 
Marchi  —  then  was  put  in  jail,  where  I  lay  three  months, 
as  they  could  not  hear  from  my  owner,  who  had  moved 
off  to  the  Choctaw  purchase.  My  boss  came  and  took 
me  out  of  jail,  chained  me  to  his  horse  with  plough 
traces,  and  was  taking  me   on  his  way,  when  Gen. 

S ,  of  Georgia  bought  me.     He   put  me  in  his 

kitchen  to  cook  for  him.  But  I  was  not  satisfied  with 
him,  although  he  used  me  well.  The  fact  is,  I  wanted 
to  be  free.     I  ran  away  and  left  him,  —  he  had  me 

caught,  and  sold  me  to  S N ,  w^ho  took  me  to 

New  Orleans.     Nobody  there  liked  my  countenance  at 

all  —  no  one  would  give  a  cent  for  me.     N took 

me  to  Natchez  and  sold  me,  after  a  week,  to  a  young 
man  named  G S ,  who  had  a  cotton  planta- 
tion a  few  miles  above  Natchez.  He  treated  me  well 
at  first.  He  would  not  allow  any  to  leave  the  place  to 
see  their  friends  without  a  pass  from  him  or  the  over- 
seer. I  went  out  to  see  my  friends,  and  was  flogged 
with  a  bull  whip  on  the  bare  back  —  a  whip  heavier 
and  larger  than  a  horse-whip,  with  a  buck-skin  cracker 
on  the  lash.  I  ran  away  again  —  they  cauglit  me  and 
put  plough  traces  around  my  body,  and  put  me  to 
work  hoeing  cotton  and  corn.  Not  long  after,  they 
put  on  an  iron  collar.  I  made  an  errand  —  went  to  the 
woods  —  and  the  overseer  sent  all  hands  to  hunt  for 
me.  They  found  me,  and  brought  mc  back  to  the 
driver.     The  old  driver  gave  me  two  blows  with  the 


%m 


304 


THB  REFUGEE ;  OR  A 


w 


iiiir 


bull  whip ;  the  young  driver  stopped  him.  The  over* 
seer  came  up  and  knocked  me  down  with  his  fist  by  a 
blow  on  the  head.  I  fainted,  was  taken  to  a  tree,  and 
when  I  came  to,  the  overseer  was  bleeding  me.  Word 
came  to  the  overseer,  from  my  master's  grandmother, 
the  same  day,  that  my  master  was  gone  away,  and 
unlesd  he  took  off  my  chains,  I  would  die  before  his  re- 
turii.     The  overseer  took  them  all  off.  * 

At  night,  I  dressed  up  and  started  off,  steering  by  the 
north  star.  I  walked  seven  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
nights,  —  then,  in  Kentucky,  I  was  betrayed  by  a  col- 
lored  man,  and  lay  in  jail  fifteen  months.  I  would  n't 
tell  them  where  I  belonged.     Then,  under  terror  of  the 

whip,  I  told  them  all  about  it.     A  Dr.  J N  i 

had  bought  the  chance  of  me,  —  he  took  me  to  Nash- 
ville, where  I  waited  on  him,  his  partner,  and  took  care 
of  his  horses  about  four  years.  I  started  to  run  away 
from  him  on  his  partner's  horse  —  I  had  one  hundred 
and  fifty  cellars  with  me.  He  overtook  me  and  took 
away  my  money.  Then  he  put  me  in  jail  and  sold  me 
to  an  old  broken  down  trader.  I  left  him,  proceeded 
north,  was  caught  in  Indiana,  and  taken  to  Evansville 
jail.  They  would  not  receive  me  there,  and  I  was  ta- 
ken to  Henderson,  on  the  Kentucky  side,  and  put  in 
jail  there.  My  owner  put  on  handcuffs  and  locked  rme 
into  the  wagon  besides  with  plough  chains.  I  trav- 
elled three  days  thus  in  succession  —  he  chaining  me 
at.night  to  his  bedstead.  On  the  third  night,  I  was 
eating  in  the  tavern  kitchen  where  we  stopped ;  I  eon- 
cluded  to  try  for  the  North  once  more.  I  went  out  and 
hammered  off  my  chains  —  found  some  assistance  to 
get  off  my  cuffs,  and  came  on  my  way,  travelling  alto- 
gether nighta  by  the  north  star,  and  lying  by  in  the  day. 
In  Ohio,  I  found  the  best  kind  of  friends,  and  soon 


r, 


NORTH     IDE  VIE       OP   81       KRT. 

reached  Canada.  When  I  first  ca  ,  J  joii  d  the  sol- 
diers just  after  the  rebellion :  th<  pracl  in  d  up  and 
down  the  province  as  a  physician,  Irom  the  knowledge 
I  had  obtained  from  a  colored  man  in  Mississippi,  who 
knew  roots  and  herbs,  —  but  there  were  many  kinds  I 
wanted  which  I  could  not  find  here. 

I  am  now  hiring  a  piece  of  land  in  Buxton.  My  cal- 
culation is,  if  I  live,  to  own  a  farm  if  I  can.  My  health 
is  good,  and  the  climate  agrees  with  me  —  and  it  does 
with  colored  men  generally. 

Slavery  is  barbarous.  In  my  view,  slaveholders, 
judged  by  the  way  they  treat  colored  people,  are  the 
worst  persons  on  earth. 


R.  VAN  BRANKEN. 

I  was  born  and  brought  up  in  New  York  State.  I 
have  suffered  in  the  States  somewhat  on  account  of 
my  color :  in  travelling,  not  being  allowed  the  same 
privileges  as  others,  when  they  took  my  money :  not 
having  cabin  fare  like  others,  when  I  paid  cabin  paa 
sage.  If  my  work  was  that  of  an  hostler  or  cook,  or 
any  thing  of  that  sort,  I  did  not  think  that  my  place 
was  the  parlor ;  but  when  clean  and  well  dressed,  in 
occupations  not  offensive,  then  I  think  I  am  as  good  as 
anybody,  and  deserve  as  good  treatment. 

I  have  four  acres  and  a  half  of  land  here,  and  a  fifty- 
acre  wood-lot  on  the  fourteenth  concession,  and  can 
make  a  good  living  here. 

Among  some  people  here,  there  is  as  much  prejudice 
as  in  the  States,  bnt  thev  cannot  carry  it  out  as  they  do 
in  the  States :  the  law  makes  the  difference. 

26* 


806 


THB  refuoeb;  or  a 


I  am  acquainted  with  many  of  the  colored  families 
here,  and  they  are  doing  well.  We  have  good  schools 
here. 

The  separate  schools  and  churches  work  badly  for  the 
colored  people  in  the  States  and  in  Canada.  In  Roch- 
ester, N.  Y.,  it  injured  them  very  much,  although  the 
separate  school  was  petitioned  for  by  a  portion  of  the 
colored  people  themselves.  In  Cleveland,  Ohio,  they 
have  separate  churches,  but  no  separate  school.  In 
Chatham,  the  separate  school  was  by  request  of  them- 
selves.    I  never  was  in  favor  of  such  a  thing. 


\\ 


HENRY  JOHNSON. 

I  have  lived  in  Canada  four  years  —  in  Buxton  one 
year.     I  came  originally  from  Pennsylvania. 

The  situation  and  circumstances  of  the  colored  peo- 
ple in  Canada  are  better  than  in  the  United  States.  I 
have  a  large  family  —  ten  persons  —  and  know.  I  have 
1)ought,  paid  for,  and  have  a  deed  of  one  hundred  acres 
of  land.  The  people  here  are  very  prosperous  —  they 
came  into  the  woods  without  means,  depending  on 
their  own  hands  ;  they  never  begged  a  meal  here,  —  nor 
have  any  goods  nor  old  clothing  been  distributed.  If 
any  were  sent,  I  should  want  it  sent  back.  In  other 
places,  where  money  and  clothes  have  been  given,  the 
tendency  is  to  make  men  lazy,  —  that  I  know,  for  I  saw 
the  bad  effects  in  Amherstburg.  I  wouldn't  receive 
any  of  their  help:  I  didn't  want  it:  I  felt  'twould  do 
more  injury  than  good. 

We  look  upon  the  steam  saw  and  grist-miU,  just  fin- 
ished, as  of  great  benefit  to  us  here. 


NORTH-SIDB  VIEW  OF  SLAVKR'k. 


307 


.4** 


_^^ 


I  left  the  States  for  Canada,  for  rights,  freedom,  lib- 
erty. I  came  to  Buxton  to  educate  my  children.  I 
lived  twenty-three  years  in  Massillon,  Ohio,  and  was 
doing  well  at  draying  and  carting  —  wanted  for  noth- 
ing—  had  money  when  I  wanted  it,  and  provisionn 
plenty.  But  my  children  were  thrust  out  of  the  schools, 
as  were  all  the  colored  children  —  one  must  know 
how  I  would  feel  about  it.  My  daughter  was  doing 
well  — advancing  rapidly.  She  began  to  climb  up  into 
the  higher  classes,  among  the  ladies,  and  the  noblemen 
of  the  town  thought  it  would  n't  do.  The  teacher  liked 
her,  but  she  was  thrust  out.  The  teacher  called  about 
it,  but  I  could  not  send  her  there  again :  had  they  al- 
tered the  law,  I  would  have  been  too  spunky  to  send 
her  again.  We  were  careful  to  keep  her  cleanly,  and 
to  dress  her  nicely  and  well.  Her  mother  took  a  great 
deal  of  pains  with  her,  because  she  was  going  to  a 
ladies'  school.  I  went  to  see  the  trustees :  they  told 
me  the  vote  was  passed  —  nothing  was  the  matter  only 
she  was  black.  The  white  children  of  her  class  wished 
her  to  remain,  and  voted  in  the  school  against  the  law, 
— the  teacher  told  me  so  —  but  I  said  I  could  not  send 
her  on  account  of  the  law. 


6!   [.»' 


/ 


i " 


.J^ 


s^ 


\l 


J-.iJ 


DRESDEN;   DAWN. 


Dresden  is  situated  at  the  head  of  navigation  on  the 
Big  Bear  Creek,  just  above  the  bend  in  the  river  which 
indents  the  lands  of  the  Dawn  Institute.  It  is  in  tljie 
gore  of  Camden,  being  part  of  the  township  of  Carh- 
den.  The  village  contains  about  100  whites  and  70 
blacks.  There  is  not  land  enough  cleared  and  under 
cultivation  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  inhabitants: 
their  principal  business  is  in  lumber,  especially  staves. 
One  individual  had,  in  the  spring  of  the  present  year, 
125,000  ready  for  shipment,  worth,  as  I  was  informed, 
from  $55  to  $60  per  M. ;  and  as  many  more  had  been 
manufactured  by  others.  About  one  fifth  of  the  labor 
on  these  was  performed  by  colored  men.  Many  of  the 
colored  settlers  were  attracted  to  Dresden  and  Dawn 
by  the  proffered  advantages  of  education,  on  the  indus- 
trial plan,  in  the  Dawn  Institute.  Their  children  at 
present  attend  a  school  situated  on  the  Institute  Farm, 
but  not  under  the  supervision  of  its  managing  agent; 
it  is  in  the  hands  of  trustees,  connected  with  the  com- 
mon school  system.  Twenty-four  children  were  assem- 
bled about  the  house,  a  little  before  the  hour  for  opening 
school.  The  white  and  colored  do  not  attend  the  same 
school. 

The  colored  people  in  the  neighborhood  of  Dresden 

(808) 


\ 


w 


n  on  the 
er  which 
is  in  tl^e 
of  Caiii- 
!  and  70 
nd  under 
ibitants : 
y  staves, 
ent  year, 
nformed, 
iiad  been 
the  labor 
ly  of  the 
id  Dawn 
he  indus- 
lildren  at 
ite  Farm, 
ig  agent; 
the  com- 
ire  assem- 
ir  opening 
the  same 

f  Dresden 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW   OF  SLAVERY. 


309 


and  Dawn  are  generally  very  prosperous  farmers  —  of 
good  morals,  and  mostly  Methodists  or  Baptists.  But 
here,  as  among  all  people,  are  a  few  persons  of  doubtful 
character,  who  have  not  been  trained  "  to  look  out  for 
a  rainy  day," —  and  when  these  get  a  little  beforehand, 
they  are  too  apt  to  rest  on  their  oars. 

Some  of  the  settlers  are  mechanics,  —  shoemakers, 
blacksmiths,  etc.  About  one  third  of  the  adult  settlers 
are  in  possession  of  land,  which  is,  either  in  whole  or 
in  part,  paid  for. 


BRITISH  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE. 

In  the  early  history  of  its  settlement,  this  was  known 
as  the  Dawn  Institute.  In  1840,  <£350  was  raised 
in  England,  mostly  among  Quakers,  for  the  purpose 
of  establishing  an  Industrial  or  Manual  Labor  School 
for  the  benefit  of  refugees  and  their  children.  Three 
hundred  acres  of  land  were  purchased  and  deeded  to 
trustees,  solely  to  subserve  educational  purposes. 

The  Dawn  Institute  Farm,  lies  partly  in  the  gore  of 
Camden,  and  partly  in  the  township  of  Dawn.  It  is 
beautifully  situated  on  a  bend  of  the  river  Sydenham, 
(the  Big  Bear  Creek  of  the  maps).  At  one  extremity 
of  the  curve,  where  the  river  "  comes  cranking  in,"  with 
"  deep  indent,"  is  a  windowless,  uninhabited,  two  story 
frame  building,  against  which  props  are  placed  to  keep 
it  from  falling.  This  house  was  injured  by  fire  soon 
after  its  erection,  and  has  never  been  repaired.  At  the 
opposite  extremity  of  the  bend,  and  nearly  half  a  mile 
distant,  is  situated  a  dilapidated  steam  saw-mill,  which 
has  not  fired  up  for  about  two  years  :  huge  logs,  brought 


J  ■■ '    ' 


310 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


V 


to  the  mill  long  ago,  lie  rotting  on  the  ground.  The 
ruined  dwelling-house  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  old, 
unused  saw-mill  on  the  other,  and  the  unbroken  stillness 
of  a  spot  so  well  fitted  for  the  home  of  busy  men,  give 
an  unfavorable  and  melancholy  impression  to  the  mind, 
which  the  sight  of  the  growing  grain  on  the  farm,  and 
of  the  deep  and  beautiful  river,  winding  from  view 
among  lofty  woods,  can  scarcely  dispel.  An  unfreighted 
canoe^  paddled  down  the  stream  by  a  colored  man,  and 
a  larger  boat  which  a  youngster  was  pushing  to  the 
shore,  assisted  by  two  lads  tugging  at  a  line,  was  the 
only  navigation  observable. 

I  was  hospitably  and  kindly  received  by  John  Scoble, 
Esq.,  resident  superintendent,  who  expatiated  with  pleas- 
ing enthusiasm  on  the  natural  advantages  of  the  place, 
and  accompanied  me  in  a  walk  along  the  bank  of  the 
river,  to  point  out  the  site  where  the  church  is  to  be 
erected,  on  either  side  of  which  is  to  be  a  school-house, 
one  for  boys,  the  other  for  girls.  The  cultivated  clearing, 
across  the  stream,  he  pointed  out  as  the  spot  where  the 
college  is  to  be  erected.  In  a  beautiful  piece  of  woods, 
a  little  above  the  ruined  dwelling-house,  and  extending 
from  the  Dresden  road  to  the  river,  trees  have  been 
felled,  to  open  an  avenue  to  the  shore :  and  when  the 
obstructions  shall  have  been  removed,  and  the  road 
gravelled,  this  avenue  will  add  much  to  the  beauty  of 
the  place.  The  ground  opposite  the  avenue  on  the 
rig^jt  of  the  Dresden  road,  rises  gently  in  a  wooded 
knoll,  —  the  trees  are  to  be  "thinned  out,"  leaving  a 
magnificent  grove,  and,  on  the  summit  of  the"  elevation, 
a  cottage  is  to  be  erected,  from  which  the  superintend- 
ent will  be  able  to  survey  all  parts  of  the  farm. 

The  Rev.  Hiram  Wilson  originally  conceived  the  plan 
of  establishing  here  an  Industrial  School ;  and  he  di- 


w 

d.  The 
the  old, 
stillness 
len,  give 
he  mind, 
arm,  and 
)m  view- 
freighted 
nan,  and 
g  to  the 
,  was  the 

n  Scoble, 
ith  pleks- 
the  place, 
nk  of  the 
is  to  be 
)ol-house, 
clearing, 
Adhere  the 
)f  woods, 
extending 
ave  been 
when  the 
the  road 
beauty  of 
e  on  the 
I  wooded 
leaving  a 
elevation, 
perintend- 
1. 

d  the  plan 
md  he  di- 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


311 


rected  and  managed  the  school  for  nearly  seven  years 
from  its  commencement  in  the  wilderness.  At  that 
time  there  were  no  more  than  fifty  colored  persons  in 
all,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  tract  purchased.  Mr.  Wilson 
began  the  school  with  fourteen  boarding  scholars,  re- 
ceived the  refugees  as  they  arrived,  and  did  what  he 
could  for  their  encouragement.  About  seven  years  ago, 
Mr.  W.  left  the  Institute :  it  was  then  a  little  embar- 
rassed, but  was  considered  to  be  in  good  condition  for 
accomplishing  the  main  design.  The  saw-mill  was  in 
process  of  erection,  about  the  time  Mr.  Wilson  re- 
signed. 

The  original  purchase  was  two  hundred  acres,  to 
which  one  hundred  were  subsequently  added.  Nearly 
half  the  tract  has  been  cleared,  and  is  well  cultivated. 
Three  or  four  colored  families  support  themselves  on 
the  Institute  Farm.  Mr.  Josiah  Henson  resides  here, 
but  as  he  was  absent  at  the  time  of  my  visit  to  Dawn, 
I  had  not  the  pleasure  of  an  interview. 

The  First  Annual  Report  to  the  Anti-Slavery  Soci- 
ety of  Canada,  presented  March  24,  1852,  says  of  the 
Educational  Institute,  "About  sixty  pupils  are  attend- 
ing the  school.  The  Institution  is  soon  to  be  placed 
under  the  management  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Anti- 
Slavery  Society,  a  change  likely  to  prove  favorable  to 
its  future  success."  The  property  of  the  Institute  has 
since  been  conveyed  through  John  Scoble,  Esq.,  by 
"  lease  and  release." 

The  whole  number  of  colored  persons  in  Dawn  and 
Dresden,  w^ho  are  within  reach  of  the  place  where  the 
church  and  school-houses  are  to  be  built,  does  not  ex- 
ceed five  hundred. 

There  is  not  a  single  colored  person  coming  into 
Dawn  or  Dresden,  who  if  he  have  health  and  ihdus- 


\  , 


312 


THE  befvoee;  or  a 


\^. 


trious  habits  cannot  support  himself  within  one  week 
of  his  arrival.  Refugees  need  no  pecuniary  or  other 
aid,  except  on  first  arriving,  or  in  sickness,  or  with 
young  children. 

Mr.  Scoble  is  ready  to  assist  in  any  enterprise  which 
would  be  of  advantage  to  the  Institute.  Sydenham 
River  is  deep  and  bold ;  from  its  banks  commerce  may 
be  carried  on  with  St.  Clair  and  the  adjacent  lakes, — 
nay,  with  the  Atlantic  itself.  What  ia  wanted  is,  the 
hearty  cooperation  of  wealthy,  energetic,  and  enterpris- 
ing men. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  BRADLEY. 


I\ 


This  is  my  name  since  I  left  slavery:  in  slavery  I 
was  known  as  Abram  Young. 

I  left  Maryland  with  my  wife  and  two  children  in 
1851.  While  body-servant,  I  was  well  used  —  while  a 
farm-hand,  had  more  hardship. 

In  Baltimore,  I  was  acquainted  with  Mr.  M L. 

N . 

I  look  at  slavery  as  Jhe  most  horrid  thing  on  earth. 
It  is  awful  to  think  of  the  poor  slaves  panting  for  a 
place  of  refuge,  and  so  few  able  to  find  it.  There  is 
not  a  day  or  night  that  I  do  n't  think  about  them,  and 
wish  that  slavery  might  be  abolished,  and  every  man 
have  his  God-given  rights. 

I  have  prospered  well  in  freedom.  I  thank  the  Lord 
for  my  success  here.  I  own  fifty  acres  of  land,  bought 
and  paid  for  by  my  own  energy  and  exertions,  and  I 
have  the  deed  in  my  house. 

If  there  were  a  law  to  abolish  the  use  of  liquor  as  a 
beverage,  it  would  be  a  good  thing  for  Canada. 


\ 


NORTH-SiDL  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


313 


3  week 
T  other 
3r  with 

B  which 
denham 
rce  may 
iakes,  — 
d  is,  the 
nterpris- 


W 

slavery  I 

ildren  in 
-while  a 

—  L. 

on  earth, 
ing  for  a 
There  is 
hem,  and 
very  man 

the  Lord 
d,  bought 
ins,  and  I 


I  own  two  span  of  horses,  twelve  head  of  hogs,  six 
sheep,  two  milch  cows,  and  am  putting  up  a  farm 
barn. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  prejudice  here.  Statements 
have  been  made  that  colored  people  wished  for  separate 
schools  ;  some  did  ask  for  them,  and  so  these  have  been 
established,  although  many  colored  people  have  prayed 
against  them  as  an  infringement  of  their  rights.  Still, 
we  have  more  freedom  here  than  in  the  United  States, 
as  far  as  the  government  law  guarantees.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  ignorance  of  the  colored  men,  who  come 
here  unlearned  out  of  slavery,  the  white  people  have  an 
overpowering  chance.  There  are  many  respectable 
colored  people  moving  in,  but  I  have  not  much  hope  of 
a  better  state  of  things.  Public  sentiment  will  mo^e 
mountains  of  laws. 

Steam-engines  do  n't  worii  harder  than  a  man's  heart; 
and  veins,  when  he  starts  from  his  master,  and  fears 
being  overtaken.  I  do  n't  understand  how  an  honest 
man  can  partake  of  any  principle  to  carry  him  back. 

If  a  man  could  make  slaves  of  mud  or  block,  and 
have  them  work  for  him,  it  would  be  wrong,  —  all  men 
came  of  the  hand  of  the  Almighty ;  every  man  ought 
to  have  life,  and  his  own  method  of  pursuing  happi- 
ness. 

Mr.  Scoble  is  doing  all  he  can  for  the  benefit  of  the 
colored  people.  His  plans  are  all  for  their  good,  but 
they  do  n't  seem  to  see  it,  and  so  do  n't  help  along  as 
they  might. 

27 


iquor  as  a 
a. 


314 


TH&  REFUQEE  ;  OR  A 


WILLIAM  A.  HALL. 

I  was  born  seven  inilet>  from  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Da- 
vidson county.  I  lived  one  year  in  Mississippi.  I  saw 
there  a  great  deal  of  cotton-growing  and  persecution  of 
slaves  by  men  who  had  used  them  well  in  Tennessee. 
No  man  would  have  thought  there  cculd  have  been 
Buch  a  difference  in  treatment,  when  the  masters  got 
where  they  could  make  money.  They  drove  the  hands 
severely.  My  mother  and  brothers  and  sisters,  when 
they  changed  their  country,  changed  their  position  frc^m 
good  to  bad.  They  were  in  Mississippi  the  last  I  heaird 
of  them,  and  I  suppose  they  are  there  yet.  It  makes 
me  miserable  to  consider  that  they  are  there :  for  their 
condition  has  been  kept  fresh  in  my  memory,  by  seeing 
BO  much  suffering  and  enduring  so  much.  I  went  from 
Mississippi  to  Bedford  county,  Tenn.  My  master  died 
here,  and  I  was  in  hopes  to  go  to  see  my  mother.  The 
doctor  who  attended  mv  master  had  me  sold  at  auc- 
tion,  and  bought  me  himself,  and  promised  he  would 
never  sell  me  to  anybody ;  but  in  six  months  he  tried  to 
sell  me.  Not  making  out,  he  sent  me  to  his  father's 
farm  in  Tennessee,  where  I  was  treated  tolerably  well. 

I  remained  there  one  year,  then  he  took  me  horse- 
driving  to  Louisiana  and  back. 

I  saw  some  of  the  dreadfulest  treatment  on  the  sugar 
farms  in  the  sugar-making  season.  The  mill  did  not 
stop  only  to  gear  horses.  People  would  come  to  my 
master  and  beg  money  to  buy  a  loaf  of  bread.  I  saw 
;hem  chained.  I  saw  twelve  men  chained  together, 
working  on  the  levees.  I  saw  three  hundred  that  spec- 
ulators had,  dressing  them  up  for  sale.     The  overseers 


■\ 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


315 


in.,  Da- 
I  saw 
lution  of 
snnessee. 
,ve  been 
sters  got 
he  handa 
;rs,  when 
tion  frc^m 
it  I  heatrd 
It  makes 
for  their 
by  seeing 
(rent  from 
ister  died 
ler.     The 
d  at  auc- 
he  would 
he  tried  to 
is  father's 
ibly  well, 
me  horse- 

i  the  sugar 

nil  did  not 

me  to  my 

ad.     I  saw 

together, 

that  spec- 

1  overseers 


were  about  the  mills,  carrying  their  long  whips  all  the 
time  and  using  them  occasionally.  When  they  want- 
ed to  whip  severely,  they  put  the  head  and  hands  in 
stocks  in  a  stooping  posture. 

The  last  two  years  I  was  in  Tennessee,  I  saw  nine 
persons  at  different  times,  made  fast  to  four  stakes,  and 
whipped  with  a  leather  strap  from  their  neck  to  their 
heels  and  on  the  bottoms  of  their  feet,  raising  blisters : 
then  the  blisters  broken  with  a  platted  whip,  the  over- 
Keer  standing  off  and  fetching  hard  blows.  I  have  seen 
a  man  faint  under  this  treatment.  I  saw  one  about 
eighteen  years  old,  as  smart  as  you  would  see  on  the 
foot,  used  in  this  way :  seven  weeks  after  he  fainted  in 
consequence;  his  nerves  were  so  shattered  that  he 
seemed  like  a  man  of  fifty. 

The  overseer  tied  me  to  a  tree,  and  flogged  ine  with 
the  whip.  Afterwards  he  said  he  would  stake  me 
down,  and  give  me  a  farewell  whipping,  that  I  would 
always  remember.  While  he  was  eating  supper,  I  got 
off  my  shoe,  and  slipped  off  a  chain  and  ran:  I  ran,  I 
suppose,  some  six  hundred  yards :  then  hearing  a  dog, 
which  alarmed  me,  I  climbed  a  hill,  where  I  sat  down 
to  rest.  Then  I  heard  a  shouting,  hallooing,  for  dogs 
to  hunt  me  up.  I  tried  to  understand,  and  made  out 
they  were  after  me.  I  went  through  the  woods  to  a 
road  on  a  ridge.  I  came  to  a  guide-board  —  in  order  to 
read  it,  I  pulled  it  up,  and  read  it  in  the  moonlight,  and 
found  I  was  going  wrong  —  turned  about  and  went 
back,  travelling  all  night :  lay  by  all  day,  travelled  at 
night  till  I  came  where  Duck  River  and  Tennessee  come 
together.  Here  I  found  I  was  wrong,  —  went  back  to 
a  road  that  led  down  Tennessee  River,  the  way  I  want- 
ed to  go.  This  was  Monday  night,  —  the  day  before 
they  had  been  there  for  me.     A  colored  man  had  told 


316 


THB  befuqee;  or  a 


I 


them,  "  For  God's  sake  to  tell  me  not  to  get  caught,  for 
they  would  kill  me : "  but  that  I  knew  before.  I  got 
something  to  eat,  and  went  on  down  the  river,  and 
travelled  until  Saturday  night  at  ten,  living  on  green 
corn  and  watermelons.  Then  I  came  to  a  house  where 
an  old  colored  man  gave  me  a  supper :  another  kept  me 
with  him  three  days.  My  clothes  were  now  very  dirty : 
I  got  some  soap  of  a  woman,  and  went  to  a  wash-place, 
and  washed  my  clothes  and  dried  them.  A  heavy  rain 
came  on  at  daybreak,  and  I  went  down  to  the  river  for 
a  canoe' —  found  none  —  and  went  back  for  the  day, — 
got  some  bread,  and  at  night  went  on  down  the  river ; 
but  there  were  so  many  roads,  I  could  not  make  out 
how  to  go.  I  laid  all  day  in  a  corn  field.  At  night  I 
found  a  canoe,  12  feet  long,  and  travelled  down  the 
river  several  days,  to  its  mouth.  There  I  got  on  an 
island,  the  river  being  low.  I  took  my  canoe  across  a 
tongue  of  land,  —  a  sand-bar  —  into  the  Ohio,  which  I 
crossed  into  Illinois.  I  travelled  three  nights,  not  dar- 
ing to  travel  days,  until  I  came  to  Golconda,  which  I 
recognized  by  a  description  I  had  given  on  a  previous 
attempt,  —  for  this  last  time  when  I  got  away  was  my 
fourl  h  eifort.  I  went  on  to  three  forks  in  the  road,  took 
the  left,  travelled  through  the  night,  and  lay  by.  At 
two,  I  ventured  to  go  on,  the  road  not  being  travelled 
much.  But  it  seemed  to  go  too  far  west :  I  struck 
through  the  woods,  and  went  on  till  so  tired  I  could 
walk  no  further.  I  got  into  a  tobacco-pen,  and  stayed 
till  morning.  Then  I  weiit  through  the  woods,  and 
came  to  where  a  fire  had  been  burning — I  kindled  it 
up,  roasted  p.  lot  of  corn,  then  travelled  on  about  three 
miles  completely  lost.  I  now  came  to  a  house,  and  re- 
volved in  my  mind  some  hours  whether  to  go  or  not,  to 
ask.    At  last  I  ventured,  and  asked  the  road  —  got  the 


■"■'>tt»Al/-  -i^'**'* 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


317 


ight,  for 
.  'l  got 
ver,  and 
n  green 
e  where 
kept  me 
ry  dirty : 
3h-place, 
avy  rain 
river  for 
5  day, — 
he  river; 
lake  out 
t  night  I 
own   the 
ot  on  an 
across  a 
,  which  I 
>  not  dar- 
,,  which  I 

previous 
r  was  my 
•oad,  took 
T  by.     At 

travelled 
:  I  struck 
d  I  could 
nd  stayed 
oods,  and 
kindled  it 
t)out  three 
50,  and  re- 
»  or  not,  to 

—  goi   IIIC 


information  —  reached  Marion  :  got  bewildered,  and 
went  wrong  again,  and  travelled  back  for  Golconda,  — 
but  I  was  set  right  by  some  children.  At  dark  I  went 
on,  and  at  daybreak  got  to  Frankfort — 13  miles  all 
night  long,  being  weak  from  want  of  food.  A  few 
miles  further  on  I  found  an  old  friend,  who  was  back- 
ward about  letting  me  in,  having  been  troubled  at  night 
by  white  children.  At  last  he  let  me  in,  and  gave  me 
some  food,  which  I  much  needed.  The  next  night  he 
gave  me  as  much  as  I  could  carry  with  me. 

I  went  on  to  within  five  miles  of  Mount  Vernon.  At 
4  A.  M.,  I  lay  down,  and  slept  till  about  noon.  I  got  up 
and  tried  to  walk,  but  every  time  I  tried  to  stoop  under 
the  bushes,  I  would  fall  down.  I  was  close  to  a  house, 
but  did  not  dare  to  go  to  it ;  so  I  laid  there  and  was 
sick  — •  vomited,  and  wanted  water  very  bad.  At  night 
I  was  so  badly  off  that  I  was  obliged  to  go  to  the  house 
for  water.  The  man  gave  me  some,  and  said,  "  Are 
yoa  af  runaway  ?  "  I  said,  "  No  —  I  am  walking  away." 
"  Where  do  you  live  ?  "  "I  live  here  now."  "  Are  you 
a  free  man  ?  "  "  Why  should  I  be  here,  if  I  am  not  a 
free  man  ?  —  this  is  a  free  country."  "  Where  do  you 
live,  anyhow  ? "  "I  live  here,  do  n't  you  understand 
me  ?  "  "  You  are  a  free  man,  are  you  ?  "  "  Do  n't  you 
see  he  is  a  free  man,  who  walks  in  a  free  country  ? " 
"  Show  me  your  pass  —  I  s'pose  you  've  got  one."  "  Do 
you  suppose  men  need  a  pass  in  a  free  country  ?  this  is 
a  free  country."  "  I  suppose  you  run  away  —  a  good 
many  fugitives  go  through  here,  and  do  mischief." 
Said  I,  "  I  am  doing  no  mischief —  I  am  a  man  peace- 
able, going  about  my  own  busin  -ss ;  when  I  am  doing 
mischief,  persecute  me,  —  while  I  am  peaceable,  let  no 
man  trouble  me."     Said  he,  "  I'll  go  with  you  to  Mount 


V, 


ovn/\n 


» 


W   ^AAAV^AA. 


«  V, 


/MT    TYi  o  \T   rrr\ 


A  Vr«A     AAJlbtK 


J   S"^* 


lova  a  mm 


A  in'    T 


am 


27 


318 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


\' 


going,  if  it  is  the  Lord's  will  that  I  shall  get  there. 
Good  evening;"  and  I  started  out  of  the  gate.  He 
said,  «  Stop !  "  Said  I,  "  Man,  do  n't  bother  me,  —  I'm 
sick,  and  do  n't  feel  like  being  bothered."  I  kept  on  :  he 
followed  me,  —  "  Stop,  or  I  '11  make  you  stop ! "  "  Man, 
did  n't  I  tell  you  I  was  sick,  and  do  n't  want  to  be  both- 
ered." I  kept  on,  —  he  picked  up  a  little  maul  at  a 
wood-pile,  and  came  with  me,  his  little  son  following, 
to  see  what  was  going  on. 

He  walked  a  mile  and  a  quarter  with  me,  to  a  neigh- 
bor of  his  —  called  —  there  came  out  three  men.  He 
stated  to  them,  "  Here 's  a  runaway  going  to  Mount 
Vernon  :  I  think  it  would  be  right  to  go  with  him."  I 
made  no  reply.  He  said,  "  We  '11  go  in  with  him,  and 
if  he  be  correct,  we  '11  not  injure  him,  —  we  '11  not  do 
him  no  harm,  nohow."  I  stood  consulting  with  my- 
self, whether  to  fight  or  run ;  I  concluded  to  run  first, 
and  fight  afterward.  I  ran  a  hundred  yards  :  one  ran 
after  me  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  and  turned  back.  I 
sat  down  to  rest,  —  say  an  hour.  They  had  gone  on 
ahead  of  me  on  horses.  I  took  a  back  track,  and  found 
another  road  which  led  to  Mount  Vernon,  which  I  did 
not  reach  until  daybreak,  although  he  said  'twas  only 
five  miles.  I  hastened  on  very  quick  through  town,  and 
so  got  off  the  track  again  :  but  I  found  a  colored  friend 
who  harbored  me  three  days,  and  fulfilled  the  Scriptures 
in  one  sense  to  perfection.  I  was  hungry,  and  he  fed 
me ;  thirsty,  and  he  gave  me  drink ;  weary,  and  he  min- 
istered to  my  necessities  ;  sick,  and  he  cared  for  me  till 
I  got  relieved :  he  took  me  on  his  own  beast,  and  car- 
ried me  ten  miles,  and  his  wife  gave  me  food  for  four 

days'  travel.     His   name  was  Y .     I  travelled  on 

three  nights,  and  every  morning  found  myself  close  to 
a  town.    One  was  a  large  one.    I  got  into  it  early,  —*  I 


\ 


~  *"%. 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


319 


wa8  scared,  for  people  was  stirring,*—  but  I  got  through 
it  by  turning  to  my  right,  which  led  me  thirty  miles  out 
of  my  way.  I  was  trying  to  get  to  Springfield.  Then 
I  went  on  to  Taylorville.  I  lay  out  all  day,  two  miles 
out,  and  while  there,  a  man  came  riding  on  horsebuck 
within  two  feet  of  me.  I  thought  he  would  see  me,  but 
he  wheeled  his  horse,  and  away  he  went.  At  dark  I 
got  up  and  started  on.  It  rained  heavily.  I  went  on 
to  the  town.  I  could  discover  nothing  —  the  ground 
was  black,  ihe  sky  was  cloudy.  I  travelled  a  while  by 
the  lights  in  the  windows  ;  at  last  ventured  to  ask  the 
way,  and  got  a  direction  for  Springfield.  After  the  rain 
the  wind  blew  cold ;  I  was  chilled :  I  went  into  a  calf- 
lot,  and  scared  up  the  calves,  and  lay  where  they  had 
been  lying,  to  warm  myself.  It  was  dark  yet  1  stayed 
there  half  an  hour,  trying  to  get  warm,  then  got  up,  and 
travelled  on  till  daybreak.  It  being  in  a  prairie,  I  had 
to  travel  very  fast  to  get  a  place  to  hide  myself.  I 
came  to  a  drain  between  two  plantations,  and  got  into 
it  to  hide.  At  sundown  I  went  on,  and  reached  Spring- 
field, as  near  as  I  could  guess,  at  3  o'clock.  I  got  into 
a  stable,  and  lay  on  some  boards  in  the  loft.  ♦ 

When  I  awoke,  the  sun  was  up,  and  people  were 
feeding  horses  in  the  stable.  I  found  there  was  no 
chance  to  get  out,  without  being  discovered,  and  I  went 
down  and  told  them  that  I  was  a  stranger,  knowing  no 
one  there  ;  that  I  was  out  until  late,  and  so  went  into 
the  stable.  I  asked  them  if  there  was  any  harm.  They 
said  "  No."  I  thanked  them  and  pursued  my  way.  I 
walked  out  a  little  and  found  a  friend  who  gave  me 
breakfast.  Then  I  was  taken  sick,  and  could  not  get  a 
step  from  there  for  ten  days :  then  I  could  walk  a  little, 
and  had  to  start. 

I  took  directions  for  Bloomington, — but  the  direc- 


320 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


w 


tions  were  wrong,  and  I  got  thirty  miles  out  of  my  way 
again :  &o  that  when  I  reached  Bloomington,  I  was  too 
tired  to  go  another  step.  I  begged  for  a  carriage,  and 
if  they  had  not  got  one,  the  Lord  only  knows  what 
would  have  happened.  I  was  conveyed  to  Ottawa, 
where  I  found  an  abolitionist  who  helped  me  to  Chi- 
cago. From  about  the  middle  of  August  to  the  mid- 
dle of  November,  I  dwelt  in  no  house  except  in  Spring- 
field, sick,  —  had  no  bed  till  I  got  to  Bloomington.  In 
February,  I  cut  wood  in  Indiana, —  I  went  to  Wiscon- 
sin, and  staid  till  harvest  was  over ;  then  came  to  a 
particular  friend,  who  offered  me  books.  I  had  no 
money  for  books :  he  gave  me  a  Testament,  and  g^ve 
me  good  instruction.  I  had  worn  out  two  Testaments 
in  slavery,  carrying  them  with  me  trying  to  get  some 
instruction  to  carry  me  through  life.  "  Now,"  said  he, 
"  square  up  your  business,  and  go  to  the  lake,  for  there 
are  men  here  now,  even  here  where  you  are  living,  who 
would  betray  you  for  half  a  dollar  if  they  knew  where 
your  master  is.  Cross  the  lake  :  get  into  Canada."  I 
thanked  him  for  the  book,  which  I  have  now ;  settled 
up  aad  came  to  Canada. 

I  like  Canada.  If  the  United  States  were  as  free  as 
Canada,  I  would  still  prefer  to  live  here.  I  can  do  as 
much  toward  a  living  here  in  three  days,  as  there  in 


Lfiix. 


\ 


my  way 
was  too 
age,  and 
vs  what 
Ottawa, 
5  to  Chi- 
the  mid- 
1  Spring- 
rton.  In 
Wiscon- 
ame  to  a 

had  no 
ana  g^ve 
jstamehts 
get  some 
"  said  he, 
for  there 

ing,  who 
ew  where 
tiada."  I 
settled 

as  free  as 
can  do  as 
there  in 


WINDSOR, 


WixDSOR,  at  the  terminus  of  the  Great  Western  Rail- 
way, is  in  the  township  of  Sandwich.  It  was  incorpo- 
rated January  1, 1854,  with  a  population  of  1000  souls. 
It  is  now  estimated  to  contain  one  thousand  four  hun- 
dred inhabitants.  There  are  settled  in  various  parts  of 
the  village  fifty  families  of  colored  people,  some  of 
whom  entertain  as  boarders  a  number  of  fugitives  from 
bondage.  Assuming  an  average  of  five  in  a  family,  the 
colored  population  may  be  set  down  at  two  hundred 
and  fifty.  The  general  appearance  of  these  is  very 
much  in  their  favor.  There  are  many  good  mechanics 
among  them :  nearly  all  have  conifortable  homes,  and 
some  occupy  very  neat  and  handsome  houses  of  their 
own. 

Appearances  indicate  that  the  inhabitants  of  Wind-* 
sorwill  unite  in  supporting  good  schools  for  the  rising 
generation,  without  distinction  of  color.  Where  sepa- 
rate schools  exist,  the  advantage  in  respect  to  buildings 
and  teac  hers  is  for  the  most  part  on  the  side  of  the 
whites ;  and  unless  the  separate  schools  are  abolished, 
there  is  reason  to  fear  that  the  progress  of  the  colored 
people  in  education  will  be  very  much  retarded  in  the 
greater  part  of   the  province.     Mrs.   Mary   E.   Bibb, 

(821) 


322 


THE  REFUQEE ;  OR  A 


\' 


Sir  i;i'|*,*\w!n 
i  .  i    ■   M 


widow  of  the  late  lamented  Henry  Bibb,  Esq.,  has  de- 
voted herself  to  teaching  a  private  school  in  "Windsor, 
and  with  good  success.  During  the  last  spring  term, 
she  had  an  attendance  of  forty-six  pupils,  seven  of 
whom  were  white  children. 

A  gentleman  of  Windsor  who  has  long  taken  a  deep 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  African  race,  is  of  opinion 
that  immigrants  who  have  been  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Pennsylvania  and  other  free  States  are  more 
industrious  and  "  more  to  be  depended  upon  than  those 
who  come  into  Canada  directly  from  a  state  of  slavery." 
The  same  gentleman  assuri^d  me  that  the  best  and 
most  dexterous  blacksmith  ha  had  ever  known  w^s  a 
refugee :  he  had  not  such  tools  as  he  wanted,  nor  wo'uld 
take  good  ones  on  credit,  for  fear  he  might  not  be  able 
to  pay :  yet  he  would  make  or  mend  various  utensils, 
while  other  smiths  could  not.     He  is  now  at  Buxton. 

"While  in  Windsor,  I  was  repeatedly  informed  by 
those  who  have  the  best  means  of  knowing,  that  "  there 
is  no  need  of  raising  money  to  aid  the  colored  people 
here,  unless  for  a  day  or  two  when  a  fugitive  family 
first  comes  in.  Women  get  half  a  dollar  for  washing, 
and  it  is  difficult  to  hire  them  at  that." 

A  circumstance  which  fell  under  my  notice  in  this 
township  of  Sandwich,*  reminds  me  of  what  I  might 
#with  propriety  have  said  in  referring  to  other  parts  of 
the  province,  that  it  is  fortunate  for  some  conscience- 
stricken  slaveholders,  that  Canada  affords  a  refuge  for 
a  certain  class  of  their  household  victims  —  their  slave- 
wives,  or  slave-children,  or  both.  If  it  be  a  crime  to 
assist  slaves  in  reaching  a  land  of  freedom,  it  is  not 
a  crime  of  which  those  terrible  fellows,  the  northern  abo- 


*  See  the  narrative  of  J.  G.  Brown,  Chatham. 


V 

,  has  de- 
Windsor, 
ing  tenii, 
seven  of 

in  a  deep 
f  opinion 
ricultural 
are  more 
lan  those 
slavery." 
best  and 
^n  w^8  a 
lor  wo^old 
it  be  able 
utensils, 
Buxton. 
>rmed  by 
at "  there 
d  people 
7e  family 
washing, 

le  in  this 
1 1  might 
parts  of 
mscience- 
■efuge  for 
eir  slave- 
crime  to 
it  is  not 
hern  abo- 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


323 


lltionists,  alone  are  guilty.  Slaveholders  may  pour 
contempt  on  the  names  and  the  deeds  of  northern  phi- 
lanthropists :  but  these  have  no  slanderous  epithets  to 
hurl  back  upon  the  southerner,  who  snatches  his  chil- 
dren and  the  mother  of.  his  children  from  the  threaten- 
ing hammer  of  the  auctioneer,  and  hurriedly  and  tear- 
fully starts  them  for  the  North  with  the  parting  injunc- 
tion, "  Stop  not  short  of  Canada ! "  We  rejoice  with 
him  that  England  offers  a  place  of  refuge  where  his 
wife  and  his  offspring  may  be  free.  Yet,  of  any  head 
of  such  a  family,  a  northern  fanatic  might  be  prompted 
to  ask.  Is  this  course  honorable  and  manly  ?  Do  not 
these  children  need  both  parents  to  look  after  their  in- 
terests ?  and  does  not  this  slave-wife,  ignorant  and 
among  strangers  in  a  strange  land,  need  your  presence, 
your  counsel,  your  direction  ?  He  that  provideth  not 
for  his  own  household  is  worse  than  an  infidel,  and  al- 
most as  bad  as  an  abolitionist :  but  your  family  are  in 
arrears  for  board,  and  are  quartered  upon  the  charity  of 
persons  who  are  themselves  poor  refugees. 

Mr.  David  Cooper,  who  lives  on  the  lands  of  the  In- 
dustrial Institution,  has  furnished  a  statement  which 
will  be  found  below,  showing  the  position  of  afiiairs 
where  he  resides. 


REFUGEES'  HOME. 

• 

At  about  nine  miles  from  Windsor,  in  the  townships 
of  Sandwich  and  Madison,  ^he  Refugees'  Home  Soci- 
ety^ have  jnade   a  purchase\_of„jiearly.  two  thou^ 
acres  of  land,^nr"wEicH  reside  some  twenty  families, 
eachLon3_Jaiin_of  jtw^^  'Foity~25~?LCYe 

lots  have  been  taken  up.     A  school  is  maintained  there 


three  fourths  of  the  year. 


,«-^ 


^"1  I 


324 


/ 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


\ 


Mr.  Henry  Bibb,  who  was  himself  a  fugitive  from  the 
house  of  bo:idage,  originated  the  idea  of  establishing  a 
society  which  should  "  ainm  to  purchas*^  thirty  thousand 
acres  of  government  land  somewhere  in  the  most  suit- 
able sections  of  Canada  where  it  can  be  obtained  for 
the  homeless  refugees  from  American  slavery  to  settle 
\  upon."  This  was  soon  after  the  passage  of  the  fugitive 
slave  bill. 

The  society  was  organized  and  a  constitution  adopt- 
ed in  August,  1852.  The  object  of  the  society  is  de- 
clared to  be  "  to  assist  the  refugees  from  American 
slavery  to  obtain  permanent  homes,  and  to  promote 
their  social,  moral,  physical,  and  intellectual  elevation." 
The  society  propose  to  purchase  of  the  Canadian  gov- 
ernment, fifty  thousand  acres  of  land,  at  a  cost  of  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  Money  for  the  ^  'base  is 
obtained  in  part  by  contributions;  and  "  .alf  the 
moneys  received  for  the  sale  of  lands  is  devoted  to  the 
purchase  of  other  lands.  The  other  moiety  of  mone)  s 
received  is  to  be  devoted  to  the  support  of  schools. 

By  the  constitution  adopted  in  1852,  it  appears  that 
each  family  of  actual  settlers  receives  twenty-five  acres 
of  land,  five  of  which  they  receive  free  of  cost,  provided 
they  shall,  within  three  years  from  the  time  of  occu- 
pancy, clear  and  cultivate  the  same.  "  For  the  remain- 
ing twenty  acres,  they  shall  pay  the  primary  cost  in 
nine  equal  ajinual  payments,  free  of  u«e,  for  which  they 
shall  receive  deeds."  This  article  may  be  varied  to 
favor  the  aged,  etc.  "  This  Society  shall  give  deeds  to 
none  but  landless  refugees  from  American  slavery." 
"  No  person  receiving  land  by  gift  or  purchase  from  the 
Society  shall  have  power  to  transfer  the  same  under 
.fifteen  years  from  the  time  of  the  purchase  or  gift.'' 
\A11  lar'ds  becoming  vacated  by  the  removal  or  extinc- 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY* 


325 


rom  the 
ishing  a 
[lousand 
Dst  suit- 
ined  for 
to  settle 
fugitive 

n  adopt- 
ty  is  de- 
Lmerican 
promote 
Bvation." 
ian  g©v- 
st  of  one 
t  'base  i3 
.alf  the 
ed  to  the 
moiie;y3 
ools. 

ears  that 
ive  acres 
provided 
of  occu- 
remain- 
f  cost  in 
lich  they 
raried  to 
deeds  to 
slavery." 
from  the 
lie  under 
or  gift." 
w  extinc- 


tion of  families,  shall  revert  to  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee." 

Here,  too,  as  in  Buxton,  the  claims  of  temperance 
arc  kept  fully  in  view.  A  by-law  provides  that  "  No 
house  shall  be  used  for  manufacturing  or  vending  intox- 
icating liquors  on  any  lot  received  from  this  Society." 

The  Refugees'  Home  Society,  its  officers  and  agents, 
possess  the  entire  confidence  of  the  Americun  public : 
at  least  of  that  portion  which  sympathizes  with  the 
wandering  outcasts  from  the  United  States.  It  will  be 
seen  by  some  of  the  testimonials  which  follow,  that 
some  dissatisfaction  exists  among  the  settlers :  having 
its  origin  doubtless,  in  some  misapprehension  or  mis- 
take. Sti'l,  I  have  not  felt  at  liberty  to  depart  from 
my  original  plan  —  that  so  far  as  the  limits  of  a  single 
volume  may  extend,  the  colored  people  of  Canada 
might  express  their  own  opinions,  and  tell  their  own 
story  of  their  slavery  in  the  past,  their  present  condi- 
tion, and  their  future  prospects. 

The  second  report  of  the  Canada  Anti-Slavery  So- 
ciety (for  1853),  remarks  :  "  There  is  doubtless  a  better 
state  of  things  amongst  the  fugitives,  than  existed  at 
the  time  when  such  a  plan  was  proposed.  The  panic 
produced  by  the  fugitive  law,  having  subsided,  the 
poor  refugees  have  had  more  time  allowed  them  to  pre- 
pare for  the  change,  and  in  consequence,  their  wants 
have  been  diminished.  The  true  principle  is  now  to 
assume  that  every  man,  unless  disabled  by  sickness,  can 
support  himself  and  his  family  afte:  he  has  obtained 
steady  employment  All  that  able-bodied  men  and 
women  require,  is  a  fair  chance,  friendly  advice,  and  a 
little  encouragement,  perhaps  a  little  assistance  at  first. 
Those  who  are  really  willing  to  work,  can  procure  em» 
ployment  in  a  short  time  after  their  arrival,  so  that 

28 


(' 


326 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


/ 


^ftUi'O.i,, 


w:ifli 


\\ 


what  Id  specially  needed,  is  such  associati'^  >"  of  friends 
at  the  different  places  where  fugidves  lana,  as  will  in- 
terest themselves  in  the  colored  man,  put  him  in  the 
way  of  finding  employment,  and  extend  to  him  such 
encouragement  in  the  way  of  grants  of  land  or  other- 
wise, as  his  altered  circumstances  may  require.  In 
some  places',  fully  to  accomplish  this,  aid  from  abroad 
may  be  necessary,  though  in  most  places  local  charity 
will,\we  think,  prove  sufficient." 

A  True  Band  has  been  organized  by  the  residents  of 
the  Home,  and  other  persons  in  the  vicinity. 


I  i 


\i 


THOMAS  JONES. 


I  was  a  slave  in  Kentucky,  and  made  my  escape  five 
years  ago,  at  the  age  of  thirty.  The  usage  in  Ken- 
tucky on  the  front  part  of  the  State  is  pretty  good, — 
back,  it  is  rather  tight. 

I  came  here  without  any  thing.  I  had  no  money  or 
aid  of  any  kind.  I  went  right  into  the  bush  chopping 
wood.  I  brought  my  lady  with  me,  and  we  were  mar- 
ried on  the  way  at  Bloomingsburg  in  Fayette  Co.  I 
have  one  child.  With  what  I  earned  by  hard  licks,  I 
bought  land  and  have  built  me  a  frame-house.  I  now 
follow  plastering  and  any  thing  I  can  find  to  do.  .  I  am 
worth  three  or  four  thou  ind  dollars,  and  pay  about 
thirty  dollars  a  year  tax. 

If  a  man  have  aid  furnished  him,  he  does  not  have 
so  much  satisfaction  in  what  he  has,  —  he  feels  depend- 
ent and  beholden,  and  does  not  nake  out  so  well.  I 
'lave  seen  this,  ever  since  I  have  )een  here,  —  the  bad 
effect)  of  this  giving.    I  have  seen  men  waiting,  doing 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF   SLAVEBY. 


327 


f  friends 


:7i 


J  Will  m- 
XI  in  the 
lim  such 
or  other- 
uire.  In 
n  abroad 
il  charity 

jidents  of 


\\ 


escape  five 
e  in  Ken- 
y  good,— 

money  or 
1  chopping 

were  mar- 
',tte  Co.  I 
ard  licks,  I 
se.     I  now 

do.  .lam 

pay  about 

!S  not  have 
els  depend- 
so  well.  I 
—  the  bad 
iting,  doing 


nothing,  expecting  something  to  come  over  to  them. 
Besides,  it  makes  a  division  among  the  colored  people. 
The  industrious  are  against  it,  the  other  class  favor  it ; 
and  so  they  fall  out.  ^JMy  opinion  is,  that  the  fugitive 
on  the  road,  should  be  assisted,  but  not  after  he  gets 
here. )  If  people  have  money  to  give,  they  had  better 
give  it  to  those  who  suffer  in  trying  to  help  them  here. 
For  those  who  come  sick,  or  actually  stand  in  need, 
there  is  a  society  here  among  ourselves  to  take  care  ol 
them. 

In  regard  to  aid  from  societies  on  the  other  side,  there 
are  many  who  know  that  money  is  raised  for  the  poor 
travelling  fugitive,  and  they  take  advantage  of  it :  free 
people  of  color  from  the  States  come  over  pretending 
to  be  fugitives,  who  never  were  fugitives.  They  come 
in  a  miserable  condition,  often  drinking  men,  worthless, 
to  get  the  money  that  is  raised.  I  have  known  six  or 
seven  such  cases. 

The  colored  people  are  doing  very  well.  They  are 
poor,  some  of  them,  but  are  all  able  to  have  enough  to 
eat  and  wear,  and  they  have  comfortable  homes,  with 
few  exceptions,  —  and  some  of  these  are  in  a  way  to 
have  them.  Some  few  do  n't  seem  to  care  whether 
they  have  good  houses  or  not,  as  is  the  case  among  all 
people. 

In  the  Refugees'  Home  theyjiteJiet  doing  very  well. 
Land  was^JT^G  sold  to  the  refugees  at  cost,  giving 
them  live  acres,  and  they  _tQ_buy3iKfinty.  Some  dis- 
satisfaction exists  because  there._lia^..heeii_  aji^ad^ 
made  of  foursjnITrng£,an  acre  for  .surY£ying>^ although 
the  land  had  been  su!:ae.ye.d..ooce.  The  refugees  all  re- 
fused to  pay  it.  They  were  to  clear  up  the  five  acres 
in  three  years.  They  have  altered  the  constitution 
bringing  it  down  to  two  years.     Some  had  not  been  on 


1) 


*  1 1 


If 

ill 

/ 


328 


THE  befuqee;  ok  a 


\ 


th  ^e  years,  but  went  with  that  understanding.  Alter- 
ations were  made,  too,  enlarging  the  size  of  the  houses. 
One  of  them  has  left  the  lands  in  consequence,  and 
more  talk  of  doing  so.  They  doubt  about  getting 
deeds,  and  they  h^gin  to  think  't  is  a  humbug.  (The 
restrictions  in  regard  to  liquor,  and  not  selling  under  so 
many  years,  nor  the  power  to  will  his  property  to  his 
friends,  onjjc^  to  his  children,  if  he  have  any,  make  them 
dissatisfied.  I  They  want  to  do  as  they  please.  If  they 
want  to  exchange  and  get  a  bigger  place,  they  want  to 
do  it  without  being  cramped. 

In  addition,  the  men  who  have  settled  there,  have 
been  a  bother  to  the  society.  As  they  were  dependeptj 
smart  men  would  not  go,  and  it  has  been  occupied  by 
men  who  expected  aid  from  the  other  side. 

The  colored  men  must  rely  on  their  own  two  hands, 
or  they'll  never  be  any  thing. 

The  colored  people  are  temperate  and  moral. 


WILLIAM  S.  EDWARDS. 

I  was  born  in  Springfield,  Ohio.  My  mother  was,  to 
the  best  of  my  belief,  a  free-woman.  While  I  was  a 
little  child,  a  man  claimed  my  mother  as  a  slave  woman 
whom  he  had  lost  seven  years  before,  and  took  bot|||rher 
and  me  into  Kentucky,  —  as  I  have  been  told  to  Bur- 
lington. He  took  us  to  Louisville  to  sell  us,  and  there 
't  was  proved  that  she  was  not  his,  but  another  man's 
slave ;  that  other  man  took  us  back  to  Burlington. 
Here  was  another  dispute,  and  another  man  examined, 
and  found  more  marks  than  the  other,  and  proved  that 
she  belonged  to  him.     After  passing  through  several 


w 

Alter- 

houses. 

ice,  and 

getting 

S-  IThe 

mder  so 

:y  to  his 

ke  them 

If  they 

want  to 

;re,  have 
pendeptj 
apied  by 

ro  hands, 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP   SLAVERY. 


329 


tr  was,  to 

I  was  a 

e  woman 

botj{|.her 

to  Bur- 

irid  there 

ler  man's 

irlington. 

xamined, 

oved  that 

h  several 


hands  she  was  pold,  and  I  have  not  seen  her  since,  nor 
do  I  know  where  she  is.  I  have  heard  that  when  she 
was  sold,  it  was  left  her,  to  take  me  with  her  into 
slavery,  r  /emain  there  and  be  free.  She  chose  to  let 
me  remain.  I  stayed  with  the  family  until,  at  thirteen, 
I  was  put  to  the  trade  ^f  a  tobacconist :  remained  until 
twenty-one.  Then  I  did  not  dare  to  talk  about  free- 
dom. I  dared  not  name  it,  —  I  still  stayed  working  at 
the  business.  After  a  while,  hearing  some  talking  about 
my  rights,  I  questioned  as  closely  as  I  could,  but  not  to 
awaken  distrust. 

When  I  was  about  twenty-five,  we  had  a  dispute 
about  a  holiday,  and  then  I  first  claimed  my  rights  to 
his  teeth,  telling  him  that  I  was  free.  He  said  I  must 
stay  two  years  more.  A  man  offered  to  lend  me  two 
hundred  dollars,  to  buy  my  time :  he  refused.  I  then 
hired  to  another  man,  paying  my  claimant  twenty  dol- 
lars a  month,  for  s.  year  and  five  months. 

I  kept  on  inqui'ing,  until  I  found  the  man  who  first 
carried  me  into  Kentucky.  He  told  me  a  very  straight 
story,  —  that  he  1  ad  found  the  woman  whom  he  had 
lost  in  New  Orleans  —  she  having  been  absent  from 
him  fifteen  year  and  six  months,  having  been  in  New 
Orleans  all  that  time.  I  searched  the  records  at  the 
Recorder's  office,  but  there  was  nothing  on  the  books, 
—  the  whole  being  a  rascally  scheme,  therefore  they 
took  no  account  of  it  on  the  books.  The  clerk  said 
there  surely  was  no  trial  or  transaction  in  the  court ;  if 
there  had  been,  it  would  ha^  e  been  on  record.  But  the 
man  who  brought  me  said  there  was  a  trial ;  he  ac- 
ki:'owledged  that  neither  me  nor  my  mother  ever  be- 
lor  ged  to  him  ;  that  it  was  a  mistake. 

Another  man  went  with  me  to  search,  but  found  no 
scratch  of  a  pen  from  ten  years  back  to  forty.     I  then 

28* 


•If 


If 


.Si  ,*  »t 


330 


THE  befuqee;  or  a 


\ 


got  a  white  man  to  go  to  the  persons  who  pretended  to 
own  me,  and  he  told  me,  in  their  presence,  that  if  a  man 
were  half  white  and  born  free,  he  ought  to  be  free ;  and 
you  are  all  of  that.  My  boss  said  that  I  would  be  free 
after  a  time  —  that  he  never  meant  to  keep  me  over 
time.  He  probably  meant  my  time  as  long  as  I  lived, 
—  as  a  master  told  his  slave  once,  "  When  you  die,  I'll 
give  you  your  papers."  He  said  I  could  n't  pass  with- 
out papers  :  he  went  with  me,  saying  to  get  papers,  and 
then  he  would  not,  but  said  I  must  stay  a  while  longer 
btjore  I  could  get  them ;  that  he  could  not  give  them 
to  me  just  yet.  Things  went  en  in  this  way  two  or 
three  months,  until  I  was  nearly  twenty-seven  yeara 
old.  At  length  my  mistress's  son,  by  her  consent,  gave 
me  free  papers.  I  went  to  Ohio  :  then  came  into  Can- 
ada, and  settled  down  in  Chatham. 

I  have  five  children.  One  goes  to  school ;  we  are  not 
able  to  send  all  on  account  of  the  price  partly,  as  we 
have  to  pay  fifty  cents  a  quarter  frr  each  child,  at  the 
public  school.  I  went  into  Chatham  with  riOthing,  and 
I  want  the  children  some  in  the  family. 

I  have  seen  many  things  practised  in  slavery  which 
are  too  horrible  to  name. 


MRS.  COLMAN  FREEMAN. 

I  am  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  I  was  born  free, 
and  lived  with  my  father  and  mother.  My  father  was 
a  quadroon  —  my  mother  a  mulatto.  My  father  fought 
the  British  in  the  Revolution.  His  brother  was  drafted. 
but  being  sick,  my  father  volunteered  to  take  his  place, 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


331 


and  was  in  the  aimy  seven  years.  When  he  returned 
his  brother  was  dead.  He  did  not  get  a  pension  until 
three  years  before  he  died,  not  knowing  that  he  way 
entitled  to  one,  until,  on  some  abuse  from  white  men, 
he  went  into  court,  and  the  lawyer  said,  "  Will  you 
suffer  injustice  to  be  done  to  this  white-headed  old  man, 
who  has  faced  the  cannon's  mouth,  fighting  for  our  lib- 
erties ;  who  has  maintained  himself  and  family  without 
drawing  a  penny  from  the  government  ?  " 

When  colored  persons  had  their  meetings  in  the 
groves,  white  men  would  stand  with  their  whips  where 
they  were  coming  '>ut,  to  examine  for  passes,  and  those 
who  had  passes  would  go  free,  —  the  others  would 
break  and  run,  like  cattle  with  hornets  after  them.  I 
have  seen  them  run  into  the  river.  I  remember  one 
time,  I  was  going  with  my  brother,  and  saw  them  at 
the  meeting,  trying  to  get  away  from  the  patroUers.  I 
could  not  help  shedding  tears  to  see  the  distress  they 
were  in.  They  ran  into  the  river,  and  tried  to  get  away. 
Said  I  to  my  brother,  "  What  are  they  running  so  into 
the  river  for  ?  "  He  hunched  me,  and  said,  "  Do  n't  you 
see  the  patroUers  ?  "  This  was  because  they  wanted  to 
hear  preaching,  and  learn  a  little  about  Almighty  God 
that  made  them.  They  were  not  allowed  to  meet  with- 
out patroUers. 

I  knew  a  slave  named  Adam  who  experienced  relig- 
ion, and  wanted  to  be  baptized.  Saturday  night  the 
overseer  told  him  he  should  not  be  baptized.  He  went 
to  his  mistress,  and  she  gave  him  a  pass  for  the  purpose. 
Next  day,  I  went  down  to  the  shore  of  the  mill-pond 
to  see  the  baptizing.  Just  as  Adam  was  ready  to  go 
into  the  water,  the  overseer  rode  up,  and  cried  out, 
"  Adam !  Adam !  if  you  get  baptized,  I  wiU  give  you  a 
hundred  lashes  to-morrow  morning ! "     Adam  said,  "  I 


'1M 


T 


332 


THE  refuqee;  or  a 


l:^.; 


m 


IV 


St 


have  but  two  masters  to  serve,  my  earthly  and  my 
heavenly  master,  and  I  can   mind   nobody   else."     I 

know  that  overseer  very  well ; his  name  was : 

I  was  standing  right  by  him.     Then  he  forbade  Mr. 

L from  baptizing  him.     Mr.  L. :  "  If  there  is  a  God 

I  will  baptize  Adam;  if  not,  I  will  not  baptize  him." 
The  overseer  stood  up  in  his  stirrups,  and  cursed  so  that 
he  frightened  all  the  people  on  the  beach :  his  eyes 
glowed  like  two  lighted  candles.  As  soon  as  Adam 
came  out  of  the  water,  he  ran  for  home  to  get  protec- 
tion from  his  mistress.  She  prevented  the  overseer 
from  punishing  him. 

I  came  away  from  North  Carolina  in  consequence  >of 
persecution.  There  was  a  rebellion  among  the  slaves 
in  Virginia,  under  Nat  Turner,  near  where  I  was.  A 
doctor  near  me  had  his  mother  and  brothers  and  sisters, 
except  two,  killed  in  that  rebellion.  The  white  people 
that  had  no  slaves  would  have  killed  the  colored,  but 
their  masters  put  them  in  jail  to  protect  them  from  the 
white  people,  and  from  fears  they  had  themselves  of 
being  killed.  They  came  to  my  mother's,  and  threat- 
ened us  —  they  searched  for  guns  and  ammunition : 
that  was  the  first  time  I  was  ever  silenced  by  a  white 
man.  One  of  them  put  his  pistol  to  my  breast,  and 
said,  "  If  you  open  your  head,  I  '11  kill  you  in  a  min 
ute ! "  I  had  told  my  mother  t*^  hush,  as  she  w^as  in 
quiring  what  their  conduct  meant.  We  were  as  igno. 
rant  of  the  rebellion  as  they  had  been.  Then  I  made  up 
my  mind  not  to  remain  in  that  country.  We  had  to 
stay  a  while  to  sell  our  crop :  but  I  would  not  go  to 
church  there  any  more. 

I  lived  in  Ohio  ten  years,  as  I  was  married  there,  — 
but  I  would  about  as  lief  live  in  the  slave  States  as  in 
Ohio.    In  the  slave  States  I  had  protection  sometimes, 


\  ■ 

and  my 
;lse."  I 
ne  was : 
ade  Mr. 
is  a  God 
ce  him." 
1  so  that 
his  eyes 
s  Adam 
t  protec- 
overseer 

uence  .of 
le  slaves 
was.     A 
id  sisters, 
:e  people 
ored,  but 
from  the 
selves  of 
id  threat- 
lunition : 
a  white 
•east,  and 
n  a  min 
le  was  in 
as  igno> 
;  made  up 
e  had  to 
lot  go  to 

there,  — 
ites  as  in 
}metimes, 


TT 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


333 


from  people  that  knew  me  —  none  in  Ohio.  I  under- 
stand the  laws  are  better  in  Ohio  now  than  they  were 
then.  In  the  slave  States  I  had  no  part  in  the  laws : 
the  laws  were  all  against  the  colored  men  :  they  allowed 
us  no  schools  nor  learning.  If  we  got  learning,  we 
stole  it. 

We  live  here  honestly  and  comfortably.     We  enter- 
tain many  poor  strangers.  i 


BEN  BLACKBURN. 

I  was  born  in  Maysville,  Ky.  I  got  here  last  Tuesday 
evening,  and  spent  the  Fourth  of  July  in  Canada.  I 
felt  as  big  and  free  as  any  man  could  feel,  and  I  worked 
part  of  the  day  for  my  own  benefit :  I  guess  my  mas- 
ter's time  is  out.  Seventeen  came  away  in  the  same 
gang  that  I  did. 


WILLIAM  L.  HUMBERT. 

I  am  from  the  city  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  and  have 
been  in  'various  parts  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia. 
I  used  to  run  in  a  steamboat  from  Savannah  to 
Charleston. 

I  left  Charleston  in  September,  1853.  I  lived  in  the 
free  States  some  months,  but  finally  left  on  account  of 
the  Fugitive  Slave  Bill.  This  was  a  law  of  tyranny, 
and  I  had  to  come  to  Canada  to  avoid  the  ten  dollar 
commissioner.  I  would  rather  die  than  go  back, — 
that's  a  settled  point  with  me — not  on  account  of  ill- 


\. 


H 


'■^m 


;iii 


. .  ^  'Hi 


'm& 


m-k 


tlf. 


•if±M 


334 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


treatment  of  the  person ;  but  I  could  not  stand  the  idea 
of  being  held  by  another  man  as  a  chattel.  Slavery 
itself  is  cruel  enough,  without  regard  to  the  hardships 
which  slaves  in  general  have  to  uniergo. 

I  do  not  believe  that  any  alaveholder  under  the  can- 
opy of  heaven  can  see  God's  face  ;  that  is,  if  I  read  the 
Bible  right.  Slaveholding  is  against  all  reason.  All 
men  are  from  the  same  mother  dust,  and  one  can  have 
no  right  to  hold  another  as  a  chattel.  I  know  three  or 
four  preachers  of  the  gospel  who  hold  slaves.  As  the 
minister  goes,  the  congregation  goes.  The  ministers 
preach  to  please  the  people,  and  not  in  the  feai  of  God. 
I  never  knc  but  one  exception  there.  I  have  seen  a 
minister  hand  the  sacrament  to  the  deacons  to  give  ihe 
slaves,  and,  before  the  slaves  had  time  to  get  home, 
living  a  great  distance  from  church,  have  seen  one  of 
the  same  deacons,  acting  as  ^rol,  flog  one  of  the 
brother  members  within  two  houio  of  his  administering 
the  sacrament  to  him,  because  he  met  the  slave  in  the 
road  without  a  passport,  beyond  the  time  allowed  him 
to  go  home.  My  opinion  of  slavery  is  not  a  bit  differ- 
ent now  from  what  it  was  then  :  I  always  hated  it  from 
childhood.  I  looked  on  the  conduct  of  the  deacon  with 
a  feeling  of  revenge.  I  thought  that  a  man  who  would 
administer  the  sacrament  to  a  brother  church-member, 
and  flog  him  before  he  got  home,  ought  not  to  live. 


DAVID  COOPER. 

There  was  an  institution  started  here  in  Sandwich 
about  six  years  ago,  called  the  Industrial  Institution. 


\ 

the  idea 

Slavery 

ardships 

the  can- 
read  the 
on.  All 
!an  have 

three  or 

As  the 

ministers 

of  God. 
^  seen  a 

give  the 
et  home, 
in  one  of 
e  of  the 
inistering 
ive  in  the 
wed  him 
bit  differ- 
id  it  from 
icon  with 
ho  would 
-member, 
I  live. 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


335 


The  land  was  bought  by  Rev.  Mr.  WUUe,  colored  Meth- 
odist  preacher,  wiIli"money  raised  in  the  United  States. 
rH  compriseSTtwo  hundred  acres,  anT^ waT~dIvide3~'rhto 
ten-acre  lots,  and  sold  to  any  colored  rncn  who  were 
disposed  to  buy,  at  three  dollars  on  taking  possession, 
and  then  A\  dollars  the  two  subsequent  years  —  then 
they  were  to  have  a  deed.  The  land  has  never  been 
wholly  occupied.  Some  bought  the  land,  but  never 
went  on  it.  There  are  now  eight  families  on  this  land, 
who  have  forty  acres  cleared.  A  part  of  them  can  prin- 
cipally support  themselves  on  what  they  have  cleared, 
but  they  have  to  work  out  to  keep  their  families  sup- 
plied.* The  roads  there  are  very  bad,  —  being  wet  and 
muddy.  We  have  had  a  .chool  there,  but  it  is  not  kept 
up.  We  attend  here  ;  >  church  —  [at  the  Refugees* 
Home.] 

I  was  from  V  rgi;  via  originally,  but  was  brought  up 
in  Pennsylvania.     My  wife  was  a  slave. 


Sandwich 
Lstitution. 


JOHN  MARTIN. 

I  was  born  in  Virginia,  raised  up  in  Tennessee,  ran 
into  Ohio,  and  emigrated  to  Canada,  in  order  to  avoid 

the  cpr^^vissive  laws  of  the  States. 

*  The  same  evil  hinders  to  some  extent  the  advance  of  the  Elgin 
Settlement  at  Buxton :  the  Directors  of  which,  in  1854,  report  as 
follows :  — 

"  Could  it  be  so  arranged  that  all  the  settlers  could  work  on  their 
own  farms  during  the  whole  year,  the  improvement  in  clearing  and 
cropping  would  be  very  easily  doubled.  We  do  hope,  before  another 
year,  that  some  arrangement  will  be  made  by  which  the  settlers  will 
be  enabled  to  spend  more  time  on  their  own  farms,  and  with  their 
&milies." 


^  ( 


1/ 


^1.., 


i: 


'  i 


336 


THE  refugee:  or  a 


\ 


X^he  Refugees'  Home  in  Sandwich  was  commenced 
in  185l) ,  It  comprises  between  sixteen  and  seventeen 
hundred  acres  of  land,  —  I  do  not  know  how  many 
families  reside  on  it.  I  commenced  here  in  the  bush 
three  years  ago,  and  have  gone  over  about  eight  acres 

—  I  think  the  biggest  clearing  there  is.  Those  near 
round  me  are  well  satisfied  with  their  homes,  excepting 
the  oppression  they  have  tried  to  raise  on  us  as  to  the 
price.  They  were  to  have  it  at  the  original  price,  but 
they  bought  more  land  at  a  higher  rate,  and  wanted  to 
average  it  on  all  alike.  The  old  settlers  are  dissatisfied 
and  will  probably  leave,  if  this  is  enforced. 

We  have  a  school  here.  I  cannot  tell  whether  it^  is 
good  or  not,  as  it  has  .just  commenced  under  a  n^w 
teacher :  the  former  one  did  well. 

The  prospect  is,  that  if  the  new  arrangements  about 
the  price  are  given  up,  the  settlers  will  go  on  clearing, 
and  progress  in  the  best  way  we  can :  I  believe  the 
lands  will  be  taken  up,  and  that  the  colored  people  will 
have  good  farms  here. 

Slavery  is  a  dreadful  thing.  Slaveholders  —  I  know 
not  what  will  become  of  them.     Some  of  them  I  love, 

—  b'jt  I  know  they  deserve  punishment,  and  leave  them 
in  the  hands  of  God.    ' 

The  people  have  been  told  absolute  falsehoods  about 
our  freezing  and  suffering,  and  money  has  been  raised 
which  does  no  good.  It  has  been  reported  to  us,  that , 
thousands  of  dollars  have  been  raised  for  our  benefit,  of 
which  we  have  never  received  the  first  red  cent.  I  say 
so  —  I  am  fifty-five  years  old,  and  have  ever  tried  to 
keep  the  truth  on  my  side. 

I  was  not  sent  to  school  in  slave  States,  but  have 
since  learned  to  write,  as  witness  my  hand, 

(Signed)  John  Martin. 


■V 


r 


nmenced 
eventeen 
w  many 
the  bush 
^ht  acres 
1086  near 
ixcepting 
IS  to  the 
jrice,  but 
anted  to 
^satisfied 

ither  itj  is 
jr  a  n^w 

its  about 
clearing, 
lieve  the 
ople  will 

I  know 
ni  I  love, 
ave  them 

ds  about 
en  raised 
)  us,  that  ^ 
enefit,  of 
t.  I  say 
tried  to 


NORTHS-SIDE  VIEW  OF   SLAVERY. 


337 


DANIEL  HALL. 


m 


I  escaped  from  the  neighborhood  of  New  Orleans, 
seventeen  years  ago ;  had  some  difficulty  about  getting 
through  Illinois  —  there  were  many  slaveholders  in 
heart  in  Illinois  —  but  I  got  through.  I  settled  in  Mai- 
den at  Amherstburg.  It  was  then  a  dense  woods  — 
with  but  little  cleared  land.  There  were  very  few  col- 
ored people  when  I  got  there.  If  a  man  had  half  or 
three  quarters  of  an  acre  of  corn,  he  thought  he  had  a 
large  patch :  now  they  have  twenty-five  or  thirty  acre 
lots.  The  clearing  has  been  done  by  colored  and 
white,  mostly  by  colored  men,  as  I  know,  for  I  cleared 
up  a  great  deal  myself.  On  the  Lake  Erie  shore,  the 
colored  people  have  raised  in  past  years,  a  great  deal  of 
tobacco,  but  now  they  raise  corn,  wheat,  potatoes,  and 
buckwheat. 

I  look  at  slavery  as  being  heinous  in  the  sight  of  God. 
And  as  for  slaveholders,  what  is  to  become  of  people 
who  take  the  husband  from  his  wife,  and  the  infant 
from  its  mother,  and  sell  them  where  they  can  never 
see  each  other  again  ? 

"What  the  colored  people  want  is,  land  and  education. 
Vv'ith  these,  they  will  do  well  here. 

By  the  blessing  of  God,  I  have  been  enabled  to  be- 
come possessor  of  fifty  acres  in  Colchester,  of  which  six 
or  seven  acres  are  cleared. 

29  •:■'"';:■:  --.-.m..:     - 


but  have 


.ARTIN. 


-^ 


a38 


THE  refugee;  ok  a 


H 


/ 


LYDIA  ADAMS. 

pSIrs.  A.  lives  in  a  very  comfortable  log-house  on  the  road  from 
Windsor  to  the  Refugees'  Home.] 

I  am  seventy  or  eighty  years  old.  I  was  from  Fair- 
fax county,  old  Virginia.  I  was  married  and  had  three 
children  when  I  left  there  for  Wood  county,  where  I 
lived  twenty  years :  thence  to  Missouri,  removing  with 
my  master's  family.  One  by  one  they  sent  four  of  my 
children  away  from  me,  and  sent  them  to  the  South : 
and  four  of  my  grandchildren  all  to  the  South  but  one. 
My  oldest  son,  Daniel  —  then  Sarah  —  all  gone.  "  Ir's 
no  use  to  cry  about  it,''  said  one  of  the  young  women, 
"  she 's  got  to  go."  That 's  what  she  said  when  Esther 
went  away.  Esther's  husband  is  here  now,  almost 
crazy  about  her :  they  took  her  and  sold  her  away  from 
him.  They  were  all  Methodist  people  —  great  Metho- 
dists —  all  l>eIonged  to  the  church.  My  master  died  — 
he  left  no  testimony  whether  he  was  willing  to  go  or 
not  ...  I  have  been  in  Canada  about  one  year,  and 
like  it  as  far  as  I  have  seen. 

I  've  been  wanting  to  be  free  ever  since  I  was  a  little 
child.  I  said  to  them  I  did  n't  believe  God  ever  meant 
me  to  be  a  slave,  if  my  skin  was  black  —  at  any  rate 
not  all  my  lifetime :  why  not  have  it  as  in  old  times, 
seven  years'  servants  ?  Master  would  say,  "  No,  you 
were  made  to  wait  on  white  people :  what  was  niggers 
made  for?  —  why,  just  to  wait  on  us  all." 

I  am  afraid  the  slaveholders  will  go  to  a  bad  place  — 
I  am  really  afraid  they  will.  I  do  n't  think  any  slave- 
holder can  cTfit.  to  the  kinsrdom. 


road  from 

m  Fair- 
ad  three 
where  I 
ing  with 
ir  of  my 
}  South: 
but  one. 
;.     "It^'s 

women, 
1  Esther 
,  almost 
ray  from 
t  Metho- 
r  died  — 

to  go  or 
real,  and 

IS  a  little 
er  meant 

any  rate 
Id  times, 

No,  you 
s  niggers 

place  — 
,ny  slave- 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


339 


J.  P.  WHITE.  * 

I  have  served  twenty-five  years  as  a  slave ;  born  in 
Virginia,  and  brought  up,  or  rather  whipped  up,  in 
Kentucky.  I  have  lived  in  Canada  two  years —  I  have 
bought  one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Sandwich,  suitable 
to  raise  any  kind  of  grain. 

I  want  you  to  tell  the  people  of  the  United  States, 
that  as  far  as  begging  for  fugitives  is  concerned,  that 
we  are  amply  able  to  take  care  of  ourselves :  we  have 
done  it,  and  can  do  it.  We  want  none  to  beg  for  us  ; 
let  them  give  to  the  fugitive  on  his  way,  and  to  those 
who  are  assisting  him  on  his  way.  Money  has  been 
raised  —  an  immense  quantity  of  it  too,  but  we  don't 
get  it  —  indeed,  we  do  n't  want  it.  We  have  a  society 
here  to  take  care  of  our  brothers  when  they  get  here, 
and  we  can  do  it  without  assistance.  If  people  send 
things  through  pure  motives  to  the  suffering,  we  thank 
them  for  their  intentions,  —  still,  there  is  no  need  of 
their  doing  even  that. 


LEONARD  HARROD. 

Lwas  born  and  bred  in  Georgetown,  D.  C,  where  I 
had  a  wife  and  two  children.  About  six  o'clock  one 
morning,  I  was  taken  suddenly  from  my  wife;  she 
knew  no  more  where  I  had  gone  than  the  hen  knows 
where  the  hawk  carries  her  chicken.  Fifteen  hundred 
miles  I  wore  iron  on  my  wrist,  chained  in  a  gang  from 


m 

MM 


U?!;f ' 


^ 


/ 


.«** 


340 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW   OF  SLAYEBT. 


1*1^4 


Georgetown  to  Port  Gibson.  There  I  wa^  sold  and 
put  to  receive  and  pack  cotton,  etc.,  for  six  years. 
Then  I  was  sold  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  one  year ;  then  to 
New  Orleans  fifteen  years ;  then  I  took  up  my  bed  and 
v/alked  for  Canada.  I  have  been  in  Canada  nearly 
two  years.  I  was  poor  —  as  low  down  as  a  man  could 
be  who  is  not  underground.  It  was  in  winter,  —  my 
wife  was  in  a  delicate  situation,  —  and  we  had  nothing 
for  bedclothes  at  night  but  what  we  had  worn  through 
the  day.  We  suffered  all  the  winter  for  things  we  left 
on  the  way,  which  were  never  sent  us.  My  wife  is 
now  under  the  doctor's  care  in  consequence. 

I  have  hired  a  place  to  work  on,  and  have  bought 
two  acres  of  land.  ^  i  V 

A  man  can  get  more  information  in  Canada  about 
slavery,  than  he  can  in  the  South.  There  I  would 
have  told  you  to  ask  master,  because  I  would  have 
been  afraid  to  trust  a  white  man :  I  would  have  been 
afraid  that  you  would  tell  my  master.  Many  a  time 
my  master  has  told  me  things  to  try  me.  Among 
others,  he  said  he  thought  of  moving  up  to  Cincinnati, 
and  asked  me  if  I  did  not  want  to  go.  I  would  tell 
him,  "  No !  I  do  n't  want  to  go  to  none  of  your  free 
countries!"  Then  he'd  laugh,  —  but  I  did  want  to 
come  —  surely  I  did.  A  colored  man  tells  the  truth 
here,  —  there  he  is  afraid  to. 


\ 


sold  and 
ix  years. 
;  then  to 

bed  and 
a  nearly 
an  could 
♦ir,  — rny 

nothing 

through 
:s  we  left 

wife  is 

bought 


da  about 

I  would 

uld  have 

lave  been 

ly  a  time 

Among 

incinnati, 

would  tell 

your  free 

want  to 

the  truth 


/ 


SANDWICH. 


^^f^*j': 


This  beautiful  and  quiet  town,  two  miles  from  Wind- 
sor, has  a  population  of  about  fifteen  hundred,  includ- 
ing twenty-one  colored  families,  which  number,  perhaps, 
one  hundred  persons. 

The  colored  population  have  the  right  to  send  their 
children  when  qualified,  into  the  grammar  school. 
None  have  hitherto  availed  themselves  of  this  right. 
Here,  as  in  many  other  parts  of  the  province,  the  col- 
ored people  by  accepting  of  that  provision  of  law,  which 
allov)s  them  separate  schools,  fail  of  securing  the  best 
education  for  their  children.  The  colored  teachers  who 
present  themselves  are  examined  with  a  great  deal  of 
"lenity,"-— and  some  who  cannot  even  spell, are  placed 
in  charge  of  the  young. 

(JThe  prejudice  against  the  African  race  is  here  very 
strongly  marKfed.  It  had  not  been  customary  to  levy 
school  taxe-'  on  the  colored  people.  Some  three  or 
four  years  since,  a  trustee  assessed  a  school  tax  on  some 
of  the  wealthier  citizens  of  that  class.  They  sent  their 
children  at  once  into  the  public  school.  As  these  sat 
down-  the  white  children  near  them  deserted  the  b-.-  'les: 
and  in  a  day  or  two,  \ -^  ;  white  children  were  wholly 
withdrawn,  leaving  the  school-hou&e  to  the  teacher  and 
his  colored  pupils*     The  ma^^  -  was  at  last—  '  compro- 

29*  *        ^^^ 


# 


'  %  'f 


342 


THE  REFUGES';   OR  A 


¥ 


mised : "  a  notice  —  "  Select  School "  —  was  put  up  on 
the  school-house :  the  white  children  were  selected  in, 
and  the  black  were  selected  out 

Still,  the  prejudice  here  is  not  deeply  seated:  it  is 
only  skin-deep.  Sova?  yligbt  a(^fiiir3  on  the  border  prove 
that  if  a  slaveholder  were  to  j"M  his  foot  in  the  town- 
ship with  any  iniister  inuntio;',  the  true  sentiments 
and  feeling'-  of  t^«^  people  woald  manifest  themselves 
in  th  •  most  decided  and  unmistakable  manner.  The 
people  of  Sandwich.,  as  one  of  tli-^m  jocosely  remarked 
to  m* .,  am  "^  av/fal  indeper^dent : "  and  such  is  their 
strong  old-faf  uitjned  E.  'ish  hatred  of  oppression,  that 
the  population  would  rally,  almost  to  a  man,  to  defend 
the  rights  of  the  humblest  negro  in  their  midst, — even 
of  "  crazy  Jack,"  the  butt  of  the  village  boys. 

It  is  to  be  observed,  moreover,  that  the  law  allows 
separate  schools  not  only  to  colored  people,  but  to 
Catholic  and  Protestant  sects,  when  these  are  in  a 
minority. 

The  colored  people  have  also  their  separate  churches 
here.  The  Methodists  contemplate  erecting  a  building 
for  public  worship,  and  a  member  of  that  society  re- 
marked to  me  that  he  for  one,  would  like  to  have  aid 
for  that  purpose,  as  he  did  not  see  how  it  could  be 
done  without ;  but  that  the  sentiment  of  his  brethren 
generally  was  against  begging.  I  asked  him  why  thty 
did  not  attend  the  churches  of  the  whites  of  the  same 
denomination.  His  reply  indicated  that  they  thought 
they  would  not  be  welcomed  there  with  a  single  excep- 
tion :  "  One  church,"  said  he, "  has  thrown  open  its  doors 
to  us ;  and  that  is  the  English  Church  —  Mr.  Dewey's 
—  they  have  i  .  'ited  us  all  in,  and  they  .y  if  it  is 
not  big  enoT  rhey  will  make  it  bigg*  .'  Whether 
I  advis   '  h:  :  to  comply  with  an  invitation  so  truly 


it  up  on 
ected  iUj 

ed:  it  is 
Jer  prove 
le  town- 
ntiments 
emselves 
er.  The 
remarked 
is  their 
sion,  that 
to  defend 
t,  —  even 

w  allows 
B,  but  to 
are  in  a 

churches 
I  building 
ociety  re- 
>  have  aid 

could  be 
;  brethren 
why  thty 

the  same 
f  thought 
^le  excep- 
i  its  doors 

Dewey's 
y  if  it  is 

Whether 
I  so  truly 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


343 


Christian  in  character,  the  reader,  if  he  is  a  Yankee, 
and  cares  to  tc^ke  the  trouble,  can  readily  guess. 

There  is  a  school  now  open  here  registering  thirty 
colored  children,  and  having  an  average  attendance  of 
twenty-four.  It  is  under  the  charge  of  an  able  and  ac- 
complished lady  teacher — Miss  Gifford  —  who  inform- 
ed me  that  the  school  was  established  by  the  Refugees' 
Home  Society. 


"''■|. 


GEORGE  WILLIAMS. 

1  was  from  Maysville,  Ky.,  but  belonged  in  Fairfax 
county  at  first.  Left  Virginia  at  fourteen  years  old,  — 
am  now  fifty-three ;  have  lived  in  Sandwich  about 
fourteen  years.  When  we  removed  from  Virginia,  my 
mother  left  her  husband  and  two  sisters  behind.  She 
was  much  grieved  at  leaving  her  husband  :  the  children 
were  taken  from  her  before.  This  separation  of  fami- 
lies is  an  awful  thing.  At  ten  or  twelve  years  old,  the 
thought  grew  in  me,  that  slavery  was  wrong.  I  felt 
mad  every  day  when  I  thought  of  being  kept  a  slave. 
I  calculated  on  buying  myself,  and  offered  my  master 
two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  He  wanted  me  to  work 
a  year  first,  going  with  me  to  another  town.  I  did  not 
want  to  go,  and  came  off  peaceably. 

I  remained  about  six  years  in  the  free  States.  In 
some  respects,  I  suffered  in  them  on  account  of  my 
color.  Many  looked  on  me  with  contempt  because  I 
was  a  colored  man.  My  oath  was  not  taken  as  a  white 
man's.  I  had  a  farm  in  Ohio,  and  was  doing  well,  but 
a  law  was  then  passed  requiring  security  for  good  be- 


"•^  ^'w;* 


344 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


\ 


havior.  A  white  man  represented  it  worse  than  it  was, 
80  as  to  take  advantage,  as  myself  and  two  others  had 
a  heavy  crop  standing.  I  lost  by  coming  off  before 
harvest :  all  I  got  was  a  few  bushels  of  wheat.  It  was 
a  great  damage  breaking  us  up  at  that  time. 

I  work  at  whitewashing,  etc.  I  rent  a  house  and 
own  a  small  piece  of  land.  The  colored  men  here  get 
a  living.  The  greater  part  of  them  have  no  learning,  — 
almost  all  of  them  have  been  slaves.  Some  of  them 
have  homes  of  their  own ;  but  most  of  them  hire.  Most 
of  them  send  their  children  to  school.  But  we  have  to 
rent  a  house,  and  although  the  rent  is  low,  yet  we  get 
behind  on  the  rent,  till  some  of  us  make  a  sacrifice  and 
pay  up.  1  ne  school  is  not  kept  up  through  the  yeg^r. 
We  have  not  had  regular  schooling,  —  we  do  not  send 
to  the  same  school  as  the  whites.  There  were  too  few 
of  us  to  raise  money  for  a  separate  school.  We  re- 
ceived £18  from  government,  but  could  not  carry  it  on, 
and  gave  it  up.  There  is  one  school  now  supported  by 
abolitionists  in  the  United  States. 

I  do  not  go  so  strong  as  some  against  receiving  as- 
sistance. I  have  seen  many  cases  of  destitute  suffering 
people,  who  needed  aid,  and  oui*  people  could  scarcely 
help  them.  But  th  :j  best  way  would  be  to  manage  by 
means  of  societies  corresponding  with  those  of  the 
States.  In  some  places,  the  colored  people  can  man- 
age without  aid, — but  here  not. 


HENRY  BRANT. 


I  was  from  Millwood,  Frederic  Co.,  Virginia, 
brought  up  by  Coi.  N 'a  widow.    I  rema 


J  was 
.  in 


1  it  was, 
hers  had 
flf  before 
It  was 

use  and 

here  get 

rning,— 

of  them 

e.    Most 

have  to 

it  we  get 

ifice  and 

the  yes^r. 

not  send 

too  few 

We  re- 

rry  it  on, 

►orted  by 

iving  as- 
suffering 
scarcely 
inage  by 
5  of  the 
an  man- 


NORTH-SIDB  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


345 


.    I  was 

:i«itAcU  in 


bondage  until  twenty-three,  hired  out  at  dif^Tent  places. 
I  had  very  little  chance  to  get  money,  —  perhaps  two 
or  three  dollars  a  year.  Usage  was,  compared  with 
farming  usage,  good,  as  when  I  was  hired  out,  there 
were  restrictions,  that  I  should  be  well  used. 

It  always  appeared  to  me  that  I  wanted  to  be  free, 
and  could  be  free.  No  penoon  ever  taught  me  so,  —  it 
came  naturally  in  my  mind.  Finally  I  saw  that  my 
case  was  pretty  bad,  if  I  was  to  live  all  my  lifetime 
subject  to  be  driven  about  at  the  will  of  another.  When 
I  thought  of  it,  I  felt  wrathy  at  the  white  men.  At 
length,  I  said  —  this  will  nol  do  —  if  I  stay  here  I  shall 
kill  somebody  —  I  'd  better  go. 

In  1834,  my  mistress  being  old;  I  feared  that  in  event 
of  her  death,  I  might  be  placed  on  some  farm,  and  be 
cruelly  used.  I  sought  out  a  chance  to  get  off.  I  found 
friends  among  those  who  were  in  the  interests  of  the 
slaveholders,  and  by  their  instructions  reached  Canada 
without  trouble,  an<^  had  the  satisfaction  of  having  a 
friend  come  too  by  my  persuasion.  He  is  in  Canada, 
but  I  have  not  seen  him       ^e.     I  settled  in  Sandwich. 

I  received  (>"•  coming  into  the  country  neither  vict- 
uals, clothes,  nor  money,  —  I  received  only  a  welcome, 
—  that  was  all  I  wanted,  and  I  was.  thankful  to  g  >.. 
I  did  just  what  work  I  could  find  to  be  dono.  I  man- 
aged to  save  up  what  little  I  got  pretty  well.  I  in- 
vested in  a  home.  I  got  me  a  house  and  lot.  I  own 
ten  acres  in  the  hv^ 

Comparing  the  cjadition  of  the  colored  population 
here  with  an  equal  number  of  families  of  white  labor- 
ers, I  think  they  are  about  equal  in  means. 

Slavery  is  abominable,  —  I  think  slaveholders  know 
it  is  wrong:  they  are  an  intelligent  people  and  they 
know  it.     They  ought  to  have  done  their  duty,  —  given 


346 


THE  REFUGEE ;  OR  A 


me  my  freedom  and  something  to  live  on  for  what  my- 
self and  forefathers  had  earned.  I  do  n't  see  how  a 
man  can  obtain  heaven,  and  continue  to  do  as  the 
slaveholders  do.  A  man  may  do  wrong  a  long  time 
and  repent,  —  but  if  he  continues  it,  as  they  do,  I  think 
it  a  hard  case  for  him. 


»;• '-M 


MRS.  HENRY  BRANT. 

I  am  from  Maryland.  I  suffered  the  worst  kind  of 
usage  :  that  of  being  held  as  a  slave. 

I  was  fortunately  among  those  who  did  not  beat  ahd 
bruise  me.  I  was  gambled  off  tc  a  trader  by  my 
owner.  I  made  such  a  fuss,  (and  the  people  lold  him 
*twas  a  shame  to  let  me  go  to  a  trader,  —  that  I  was 
too  good  a  girl  for  that,  having  taken  care  of  him  in 
sickness,  —  that  I  ouj^at  to  have  h  J  a  ohanr^e  to  find 
some  one  to  buy  me,)  that  he  felt  a.  \med  (  i  what  he 
had  done,  and  bought  me  back.  Ther  he  gave  me  a 
chance  to  buy  myself,  —  gave  me  one  ^  .^r  to  pay  $270: 
before  the  year  was  cut,  I  offered  him  $1-  '^  in  part 
payment,  —  he  wouldn't  take  that  unless  1  .  pay  all. 
I  then  asked  him,  would  he  take  that,  and  security  for 
$120,  payable  six  months  after,  and  give  me  my  papers 
down.  He  refused.  Then  I  said  to  myself,  "  If  you 
v;on't  take  that,  you  shan't  take  any."  I  started  for 
Canada,  and  tra ,  elled  in  style,  —  he  could  n't  take  me. 

Idy  sister  was  a  free-woman.  She  was  to  buy  me, 
and  pay  $270,  and  1  was  to  be  the  security.  But  he 
ov  unreached  himself:  for  he  drew  the  paper  in  such  a 
way,  that  he  could  not  get  the  money  of  my  sister. 
Had  I  overstayed  the  vear.   I  would  never  have  seen 


tvhat  my- 
je  how  a 
o  as  the 
Dng  time 
0, 1  think 


t  kind  of 

beat  and 
r  by  my 
told  him 
tiat  I  was 
)f  him  in 
^e  to  find 

what  he 
ave  me  a 
ay  $270: 
1  in  part 
pay  all. 
purity  for 

y  papers 

"  If  you 
:arted  for 
ake  me. 

buy  me, 
But  he 
1  such  a 
ly  sister, 
ave  seen 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLA  VERT. 


847 


Canada ;  for  then  I  would  have  been  carried  back  to 
the  eastern  shore. 

One  thing  which  makes  it  bad  about  getting  our  chil- 
dren into  school  here  is,  we  are  so  near  Detroit  The 
people  here  would  feel  ashamed  to  have  the  Detroit 
people  know  that  they  sent  the  white  into  the  same 
school  with  the  colored.  I  have  heard  this  from  a  white 
woman. 


*1 


AMHERSTBURG, 


Contains  a  population  of  more  than  two  thousand. 
The  colored  portion  is  variously  estimated  at  from  four 
hundred  to  five  hundred,  —  the  latter  number  probably 
being  nearer  exactness.  Some  of  these,  who  had  resid- 
ed in  the  free  States,  before  emigrating  to  Canada, 
assured  me  that  here  the  colored  people  are  "doing 
rather  better  than  the  same  class  in  the  United  States." 

A  separate  school  has  been  established  here,  at  their 
own  request :  their  request  was  given  them,  but  lean- 
ness went  with  it.  I  visited  the  school.  There  was  an 
attendance  of  twenty-four,  —  number  on  the  list,  thirty. 
The  school-house  is  a  small,  low  building,  and  contains 
neither  blackboard  nor  chair.  Long  benches  extend  on 
the  sides  of  the  room,  close  to  the  walls,  with  desks  of 
corresponding  length  in  front  of  them.  The  whole  in- 
terior is  comfortless  and  repulsive.  The  teacher,  a  col- 
ored lady,  is  much  troubled  by  the  frequent  absences  of 
the  pupils,  and  the  miserably  tattered  and  worn-out 
condition  of  the  books.  Two  inkstands  were  in  use, 
which,  on  being  nearly  inverted,  yielded  a  very  little 
bad  ink.  The  teacher  appeared  to  be  one  of  the  work- 
ing sort,  disposed  to  bear  up  as  well  as  she  could  under 
her  many  discouragements :  but  the  whole  school  adds 
one  more  dreary  chapter  to  'i  the  pursuit  of  knowledge 
under  difficulties;"     But  there  is  a  better  time  coming. 

(348) 


NORTII'SIDE   VIEW   OS*   SLAVERY. 


849 


\. 


housand. 
rom  four 
probably 
lad  resid- 
Canada, 
3  "doing 
I  States." 
I,  at  their 
but  lean- 
•e  was  an 
at,  thirty. 
.  contains 
jxtend  on 
desks  of 
yhole  in- 
ler,  a  col- 
sences  of 
worn-out 
e  in  use, 
'^ery  little 
the  work- 
aid  under 
lool  adds 
nowledge 
3  coming. 


Maiden  (Amherstburg)  is  one  of  the  Hte[i'»r^  at  which 
the  Colonial  Church  and  School  Soci  ty  ;,fopose  to 
establish  schools,  "  expressly  for  the  benefit  of  the  col- 
ored race,  but  open  to  all." 

The  colored  people  are  engaged  in  the  various  me- 
chanic arts,  and  as  shopkeepers,  etc.  One  of  the  best 
hotels  is  kept  by  a  very  intelligent  colored  man.  In  an 
evening  walk  about  the  town,  his  was  the  only  house 
from  which  I  heard  the  cheerful  sound  of  vocal  and  in- 
strumental music :  and  this  was  occasionally  interrupted 
by  some  "  saucy  "  white  boy  shouting,  as  he  passed,  a 
stave  of  our  national.  Union-saving  air ;  the  same  which 
was  played  in  State  street,  Boston,  by  a  full  band,  when 
Massachusetts  swallowed  so  bitter  a  dose,  that  the 
whole  world  made  up  faces  :  when,  with  all  the  pride, 
pomp,  and  circum;>i;ance  of  glorious  war,  it  sent  one 
poor  "  fugitive  black  man "  "  to  old  Virginia's  shore." 
It  was  all  right,  no  doubt,  —  for  on  examining  the 
Scriptures,  a  "  passage "  from  the  Constitution,  "  No 
person  held  to  service  or  labor,"  etc.,  was  found  so 
snugly  pasted  over  Deut.  23 :  15,  that  if  it  were  possible, 
it  might  deceive  the  very  elect.  Therefore,  said  the 
people.  Burns  must  be  sent  back :  and  the  poor  fellow 
was  marched  off,  surrounded  by  beings  who  differed 
mainly  from  Southern  "  negro  dogs,"  in  not  being 
worth,  morally  speaking,  the  remotest  approximation  to 
"  $100  apiece."  It  is  said  that  pepper  was  thrown  at 
them :  this  was  in  bad  taste,  —  it  had  been  better  to 
offer  them  salt —  Turks  Island  —  as  a  very  useful  anti- 
septic for  men  who  could  scarcely  boast  soul  enough  to 
prevent  the  action  of  decomposing  chemical  forces. 
The  reader  is  requested  to  pardon  this  digression,  the 
only  one  we  have  made  hitherto.  It  is  difficult  to 
speak  with  calmness  when  reminded  of  so  disgraceful 

30 


350 


THE  BEFUGEEy  OB  A 


an  action  as  the  surrender  of  Anthony  Bdrns.  The 
time  has  come  for  Americans  to  adopt  the  motto  of  De 
V7itt  Clinton  —  "  Patria  cara,  carior  libertas."  [Dear 
is  my  country,  liberty  is  dearer.3 


Mi 


a^'*"! 


CHARLES  BROWN. 

I  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  was  raised  a  slave.  My 
grandmother  was  a  free-woman  in  Maryland.  One  day, 
as  she  was  washing  by  a  river,  a  kidnapper  came  up, 
gagged  and  bound  her,  carried  her  into  Virginia,  and 
there  sold  her  into  bondage.  She  there  had  four  chil- 
dren, my  mother,  my  mother's  sister,  and  my  mother's 
two  brothers.  After  about  twenty  or  twenty-five  years, 
when  I  was  a  very  small  boy,  a  man  from  Maryland, 
named  Hanks,  came  through  Virginia.  He  saw  my 
grandmother,  and  knew  her.  "  What  I "  said  be,  "  are 
you  here?"  She  told  him  how  she  had  been  kidnap- 
ped. He  said,  "  You  are  free,  and  I  '11  get  you  your 
freedom."  Her  oath  was  good  for  nothing,  but  by 
Hanks's  oath,  she  would  get  free.  At  night  she  was 
jerked  up  and  carried  to  Orleans,  and  sold  on  a  cotton 
plantation.  She  wrote  on,  a  good  while  after,  that  she 
would  get  free,  and  come  back  and  free  her  children. 
She  got  f:en  herself,  as  I  have  heard,  but  'twas  when 
she  got  too  old  to  do  any  more  work.  My  mother  and 
all  the  folks  there  in  Virginia  knew  about  her  being 
stolen,  and  about  Hanks's  coming  there.         '^ 

I  was  used  kindly,  as  I  always  did  my  work  faith- 
fully. Bu:  I  knew  I  ought  to  be  free.  I  told  my  mas- 
ter one  day  —  said  I,  "  You  white  folks  set  the  bad 
example  of  stealing  —  you  stele  us  from  Africa,  and 


■\  .^ 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF   SLAVERY. 


851 


ns.    The 
tto  of  De 


i> 


[Dear 


&ve.  My 
One  day, 
came  up, 
^inia,  ^nd 
four  chil- 
mother's 
five  years, 
Maryland, 
;  saw  my 
I  he,  "  are  - 
in  kidnap^ 
you  your 
g,  but  by 
t  she  waa 
\  a  cotton 
r,  that  she 
r  children, 
was  when 
lother  and 
her  being 

/ork  faith- 
i  my  mas- 
t  the  bad 
Lfrica.  and 


not  content  with  that,  if  any  got  free  here,  you  stole 
them  afterward,  and  so  we  are  made  slaves."  I  told 
him,  I  would  not  stay.  He  shed  tears,  and  said  he 
thought  I  would  be  the  last  one  to  leave  him. 

A  year  after,  I  left  for  the  North.  I  have  been  cook 
for  large  hotels.  My  health  is  now  very  poor,  —  I  have 
had  a  bad  cough  for  two  or  three  years,  from  overwork 
—  cooking  sometimes  for  three  hundred  persons  in  a 
hotel.  I  have  always  supported  myself,  and  have  some 
money  by  me  yet.  I  reside  in  Chatham,  and  came  here 
to  see  a  physician. 


JAMES  SMITH. 

I  was  raised  on  the  head  waters  of  the  south  branch 
of  the  Potomac,  in  Pendleton  Co.,  Va.  The  treatment 
there  is  mild,  if  there  can  be  any  mildness  in  it.  I  re- 
mained there  until  my  escape  in  1847.  My  father  was 
a  white  man,  and  was  my  master  too.  My  mother's 
father  waa  also  a  white  man.  My  master  was  an  Eng- 
lishman, born  in  the  city  of  London.  When  I  was  five 
years  old,  he  gave  me  to  his  son,  who  was  my  half- 
brother,  and  he  raised  me.  This  son  had  then  children 
about  my  age.  These  children  were  sent, to  school,  but 
I  was  not.  \^^hese  children  talked  about  learning  me, 
but  they  said,  "  we  mus  n't  —  father  says  he  '11  write  a 
pass  and  run  oflP.'^i  I  have  learned  to  read  since  I  came 
away.  I  was'Wiered  about  like  the  other  slaves.  1 
ate  in  the  kitchen  while  they,  (my  brother's  family,)  ate 
at  a  table  by  themselves.  I  was  stuck  off  one  side. 
Other  people  mentioned  my  relation  to  my  master,  but 
I  never  mentioned  it  to  him,  nor  he  to  me.  His  sons 
had  it  thrown  at  them  that  we  favored  one  another :  it 


352 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


m\  f ' 


:'/ 


U    ' 


I ; 


&. 


was  looked  on  as  a  stigma.  My  mother  often  told  me 
how  it  was,  but  told  me  not  to  mention  it  as  it  would 
make  it  worse  for  her.     She  died  before  her  master. 

My  old  master'  was  a  very  wicked  man  and  died  a 
miserable  death.  My  brother  was  present.  My  master 
always  had  a  custom  of  cursing  and  swearing,  and  he 
died  in  the  same  state.  Nothing  was  said  about  giving 
me  my  freedom. 

I  used  to  drive  to  Richmond,  and  stop  at  a  tavern 
with  white  wagoners.  I  wcild  notice  the  landlord's 
countenance,  viewing  me  very  much  to  see  if  I  had 
colored  blood  :  the  wagoners  would  look  at  me  and  wink. 
They  got  me  in  on  purpose  to  joke  and  bother  him.  I 
ate  with  the  other  wagoners,  excepting  a  single  time. 
He  followed  me  out  into  the  kitchen  where  I  was  eat- 
ing, and  asked  me  if  I  was  a  slave  or  not.  I  told  him 
I  was.  He  said  I  was  too  white  to  bs  a  slave.  It  is 
often  the  case  that  these  rascals  feel  for  their  own 
blood  — they  will  say  to  a  man  of  my  color,  "It's  a 
pity  you're  a  slave  —  you're  loo  white  to  be  a  slave." 
.  My  half-brother  got  involved  and  sold  me  for  four 
hundred  dollars  to  a  person  in  the  same  neighborhood. 
I  lived  with  him  about  two  years  and  six  months,  clear- 
ing up  farm  six  months,  balance  of  the  time  at  grist- 
mill. His  treatment  I  count  well  for  being  a  slave. 
His  name  was  N E . 

After  my  father's  death,  my  brothers  and  sisters,  (also 
my  father's  children,)  four  in  number,  were  hired  out  at 

auction  to  the  highest  bidder.     E came  home  and 

told  me  all  about  it.  I  then  thought,  "  I  'm  doing  well 
enough  now,  but  I  do  n't  know  how  long  it  will  last,  — 
I'll  try  next  fall  to  get  my  liberty." 

The  next  fall,  I  made  arrangements  and  walked 
away.     This  was  in  the  fall  of  '47.     After  travelling 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OF   SLAVERY. 


353 


\\ 

told  me 
it  would 
ister. 
d  died  a 
y  master 

and  he 
at  giving 

a  tavern 
andlord's 

if  I  had 
md  wink, 
r  him.  I 
gle  time. 

was  eat- 

told  him 
ire.  It  is 
tieir  own 
,  "It's  a 
,  slave." 
}  for  four 
tiborhood. 
ths,  clear- 
5  at  grist- 

a  slave. 

ters,  (also 
red  out  at 
borne  and 
oing  well 
ill  last,— 

i  walked 
travelling 


fifty  miles,  I  came  right  along  in  the  road,  and  nobody 
asked  me  any  questions,  except  one  man  who  knew 
me,  and  who  proved  to  be  my  friend.  I  stayed  up- 
wards of  three  years  in  the  free  States,  married  there  a 
few  days  before  I  left  in  1850,  and  came  to  Canada.  I 
left  the  United  States,  in  consequence  of  the  Fugitive 
Slave  Bill  —  it's  only  a  Bill.  '  It  vexed  me  as  I  was  leav- 
ing in  the  boat,  to  hear  the  Gfermansjwhom  I  could  un- 
derstand, laughing  about  the  "  niggers  "  having  to  leave, 
and  come  to  Canadall"  One  man  was  taken  awpy  from 
his  wife  and  three  children  and  carried  back  before  I 
left. 

I  am  doing  tolerably  well  in  Canada,  and  am  getting 
a  very  comfortable  living.  I  own  a  lot  of  land  worth 
about  two  hundred  dollars,  and  have  other  property.  I 
keep  a  grocery,  and  sell  to  all  who  will  buy,  without 
distinction  of  color. 


REV.  WILLIAM  TROY. 

From  Essex  county,  Va.     My  father  was  a  slave  of 

^ J  Senator  of  the  United  States.     My  mother 

was  a  free-woman. 

I  lived  there  until  twentj  -or?e.    I  left  there  11th  March, 
1848.     I  saw  scenes  there  that  made  my  heart  bleed. 

I  can  particularize  the  breaking  up  of  R, P.  W 'a 

farm,  some  five  hundred  slaves,  many  of  whom  were 
my  associates,  with  whom  I  had  often  been  to  meeting, 
belonging  to  the  same  church.  We  had  many  meet- 
ings together,  sometimes  broken  up  by  patrols.  When 
we  had  meetings,  it  was  at  late  houre,  to  avoid  the 

30* 


i 

i 

■   • 

I"'  1    , 

1 

1 

HM  ^ 

< 

1 

ml 

354 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


>*y 


\r\.'- 


h:  - 


patrols  —  yet  sometimes  they  would  run  us  away,  and 
sometimes  we  would  get  our  meetings  through.     They 

were  sold  to  different  persons  —  Judge and  others. 

About  the  time  a  part  of  them  were  leaving,  I  went 
to  bid  them  farewell.  Many  had  their  hearts  so  full  of 
grief  that  they  could  not  speak  —  they  could  only  give 
me  their  hands. 

Another  lot  who  belonged  to  the  same  man,  aroused 
me  by  singing  about  nine  at  night,  passing  my  father's 
reoidence,  singing,  bidding  farewell  to  all  their  friends ; 
many  left  father,  mother,  and  children  behind  them.  1 
may  mention  here  that  one  of  these  slaves,  a  woman 
named  Martha  Fields,  who  was  hired  out  at  the  time, 
was  taken  early  one  morning,  without  time  to  get  her 
clothes,  hurried  off  to  Richmond,  and  sold  to  the  high- 
est bidder.  From  Richmond  she  went  on  to  New  Or- 
leans, put  into  a  slave-pen,  and  bought  by  Mr.  A , 

a  celebrated  negro  trader,  and  put  on  his  farm,  where 
she  marrkd  A.'s  slave.  A.  gave  them  free  papers,  and 
they  now  reside  in  Cincinnati.  She  says  she  has  suf- 
fered enough  herself,  and  seen  so  much  suffering,  that 
she  believes  that  all  those  who  hold  slaves,  and  those 
who  uphold  slavery  will,  if  there  is  any  such  place  as 
one  of  torment,  will  be  sure  to  go  there. 

I  was  aroused  at  Loretto,  Va.,  by  the  sale  of  a  slave, 
named  William,  who  was  sold  by  his  master.  I  heard 
the  boy  hollowing  in  the  swamp ;  from  hearing  his 
shrieks,  I  made  towards  the  boy,  —  when  I  went  there, 
I  found  him  in  the  act  of  catching  the  boy  to  have  him 
sold.  His  mother,  who  grieved  much  at  the  eight,  was 
told  if  she  did  not  hush,  her  back  would  be  cow-hided. 
This  same  man,  soon  after  that,  took  her  into  the  stable 
to  whip  her,  and  finding  some  difficulty  about  getting 
off  her  clothes,  took  his  knife  and  cut  them  from  her, 


N0P.7H-SIDB  VIEW   OF   SLAVEKY. 


355 


vay,  and 
They 
d  others. 
l,  I  went 

0  full  of 
)nly  give 

aroused 
f  father's 
•  friends ; 
them.     1 

1  woman 
;he  time, 
o  get  her 
the  high- 
New  Or- 

r.  A , 

m,  w^here 
pers,  and 

has  suf- 
ring,  that 
nd  those 

place  as 

>f  a  slave. 
I  heard 
iring  his 
5nt  there, 
have  him 
ight,  was 
)w-hided. 
;he  stable 
it  getting 
from  her, 


and  whipped  her  until  she  bled.  Before  I  came  away, 
he  had  sold  the  last  one  of  her  children.  This  man  was 
N S . 

These  are  facts  which  cannot  be  denied  by  the  per- 
sons whom  I  have  named,  and  I  intend  to  be  a  terror  to 
the  system  while  I  live. 

Personally,  I  have  suffered  on  account  of  my  color  in 
regard  to  education.  I  was  not  allowed  to  go  to  school 
publicly,  —  had  to  learn  privately.  The  reason  of  my 
coming  away  was.  I  knew  that  I  was  open  to  the  as- 
saults of  any  ruffian,  if  he  were  a  white  man,  and  if  I 
made  any  reply,  I  was  liable  to  nine  and  thirty  before 
what  they  call  a  justice  of  the  peace.  Furtuer,  1  could 
not  educate  my  children  there,  and  make  them  feel  as 
women  and  men  ought — for,  under  those  oppressive 
laws,  they  would  feel  a  degradation  not  intended  by 
Him  who  made  of  one  blood  all  the  people  of  the 
earth. 

I  have  been  here  a  few  weeks  only  —  am  settled  as 
pastor  over  the  First  Baptist  Church ;  about  one  hun- 
dred usually  attend  divine  service  here,  most  of  whom 
have  been  slaves.  They  seem  to  enjoy  religion  and 
freedom  very  much  indeed.  None  are  desirous  to  re- 
turn to  the  corn-cobs  of  Egypt.         iw,*;  v 

At  Enorn  Church,  Essex  county,  Va.,  colored  and 
white  meet  together.  On  the  first  Sabbath  in  the 
month  the  colored  assemble  with  the  white  pastor  f'~ 
attend  to  their  church  business  after  sermon.  Some- 
times a  few  whites  are  present  on  this  Sabbath.  I 
used  to  go  to  church  regularly,  but  never  heard  them 
preach  from,  "  Masters,  render  unto  your  servants  that 
which  is  just  and  equal : ''  but  I  will  write  down  as 
near  as  I  can,  (and  I  recollect  all  his  points,)  a  sermon 

preached  by  Rev.  Mr. ,  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  the 

month,  and  the  church  Droceediners. 


356 


iHE  refuges;  or  a 


ifr 


m 


In  1 


8EBM0N  PBEACHED  AT  THE  BAPTIST  CHURCH  CALLED  BNOBN, 
,  BY  THE   REV.   MR.   . 

Eph.  6 :  5.  Servants,  be  obedient  to  them  that  are  your  masters 
according  to  the  flesh,  with  fear  and  trembling,  in  singleness  oi^your 
heart  as  unto  Christ 

First, —  Let  me  state  relative  to  the  different  posi- 
tions we  occupy  in  life :  I  am  not  a  lawyer,  neither  am 
I  a  senator,  nor  a  judge  of  any  court,  —  still  I  am  con- 
tented, because  Providence  has  placed  me  so,  and  I  am 
willing  to  submit  to  his  Divine  will ;  and  the  Apostle 
tells  us,  that  godliness  with  contentment  is  great  gaii^. 

Secondly,  —  Now  you  brethren  that  suffer  affliction, 
should  endure  it  as  good  soldiers,  enduring  all  hardness. 
Paul  says  to  his  son  Timothy,  "  Let  as  many  servants 
as  are  under  the  yoke  count  their  own  masters  worthy 
of  all  honor,  that  the  name  of  God  and  his  doctrine  be 
not  blasphemed."  And  they  that  have  believing  mas- 
ters, let  them  not  despise  them.  These  are  holy  in- 
junctions, and  must  be  adhered  to.  Be  contented  un- 
der all  circumstances  with  singleness  of  heart  to  God, 
not  giving  railing  for  railing,  but  with  fear  do  the  will 
of  your  master.  Count  not  your  slight  affliction  dear, 
for  God  you:  Father  hath  so  decreed  from  all  eternity 
that  you  should  suffer,  and  if  you  despise  the  imposi- 
tion of  God,  yon  cannot  enjoy  his  spiritual  benefits. 

Again,  —  we  will  have  to  take  into  consideration  the 
base  action  of  one  of  our  brethren  who  ran  away  from 
his  master.  When  we  go  into  this  work,  you  must 
consider  the  obligation  that  the  servant  is  under  to  his 
master;  then  examine  the  text,  and  ycu  will  know 
that  we  shall  be  compelled  to  excommunicate  brother 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP   SLAVERT. 


357 


Reuben 
Mr. 


Smith    for  running  away  from    his   master, 


&  EXOBK, 


ir  madters 
jsfl  oi'your 

nt  posi- 
ther  am 
am  con- 
nd  I  am 
Apostle 
it  gaii^. 
ifniction, 
lardness. 
servants 
s  worthy 
ctrine  be 
ing  mas- 
holy  in- 
nted  un- 
to God, 
the  will 
on  dear, 
eternity 
imposi- 
efits. 
ition  the 
/ay  from 
ou  must 
ler  to  his 
ill  know 
}  brother 


Now  the  Deacons  (colored)  who  are  present  will 
state  the  case,  and  we  will  take  action  on  it.     Deacon 

R ,  you  will  state  what  you  know  about  Reuben's 

running  away. 

Deacon  R.  Yes,  Sir ;  I  know  that  he  ran  away  from 
his  master,  and  so  far  as  I  know  about  such  conduct,  I 
believe  it  wrong,  and  can't  be  tolerated  by  us. 

Minister.  Will  Deacon  Edmund ,  come  for- 
ward ?     State  what  you  know  about  the  case. 

Deacon  E.  It  is  true,  Sir,  that  Reuben  ran  away, 
and  we  must  exclude  him  for  it. 

Minister.  Now,  brethren,  you  hear  the  statements  of 
your  deacons,  whet  will  you  do  with  the  case  ? 

Deacon  R.  I  move  that  we  exclude  brother  Reuben, 
for  running  away  from  master. 

Deacon  E.     I  second  that. 

Minister.  All  that  are  in  favor  of  that  motion  will 
hold  up  your  right  hand.  It  is  unanimous.  Well, 
brethren,  we  have  done  God's  will,  let  us  sing  and  con- 
clude our  meeting.     Billy,  will  you  sing  ? 

"  Jerusalem,  my  happy  home ! 
Oh,  how  I  long  for  thee ! 
When  will  my  sorrows  have  an  end, 
My  joys  when  shall  I  see  ?  " 

Receive  the  benediction.  —  May  the  God  of  peace 
crown  our  efforts  with  success,  and  save  us  all  in  the 
end,  for  the  Redeemer's  sake.     Amen. 

Reuben  Smith  was  a  preacher,  and  an  intelligent 
man :  that 's  the  reason  he  ran  away.  He  was  caught 
in  the  city  of  Washington,  and  sold  into  Louisiana. 


358 


THE  hefugee;  or  a 


WILLIAM  LYONS. 


mw 


LA      V, 


K » 


t) 


i 


r  '*. 


(' 


%M 


I  have  worked  in  Amherstburg  at  joining  —  have 
worked  here  two  years.  I  get  15*.  York,  a  day.  My 
family  are  in  Detroit.  I  was  free-born  in  Virginia,  and 
have  been  ill-treated  in  the  free  States,  on  account  of 
my  color.  I  went  into  Columbus,  Ohio,  to  work  at  my 
trade ;  I  was  employed  in  a  shop.  The  journeymen  all 
left  the  shop  —  wouldn't  work  in  the  shop  with  a  col- 
ored man  —  would  n't  think  of  it.  I  ^persevered,  and  got 
employment  from  one  who  defied  the  prejudice  of  the 
city,-— Mr.  Robert  Reardon.  After  that  I  found  no 
difficulty  at  all,  and  was  treated  like  a  gentleman.  The 
people  there  who  had  employed  me  wished  me  to  re- 
main.    I  own  property  there  now. 

The  colored  people  here  are  industrious  and  doing 
well.  They  are  doing  as  well  as  those  in  the  States. 
There  is  less  whiskey  drinking  by  colored  people  here, 
than  in  any  place  I  know  of.  They  use  less,  in  my 
opinion,  than  the  whites  in  general. 


JOSEPH  SANFORD. 

At  10  years  old  I  was  moved  to  Kentucky,  from 
Madison  Co.,  Va.  I  remained  in  Kentucky  till  about 
50  \ 

My  father  always  advised  me  to  be  tractable,  and 
get  along  with  the  white  people  in  the  best  manner  I 
could,  and  not  be  saucy.  My  mother  always  taught 
me  to  serve  the  Lord  —  which  has  ever  been  my  aim ; 


*■ 


V- 


J  — have 
ay.  My 
inia,  and 
count  of 
rk  at  my 
ymen  all 
th  a  col- 
,  and  got 
3e  of  the 
bund  no 
m.  The 
le  to  re- 

iid  doing 

le  States, 
•pie  here, 
3,  in  my 


ky,  from 
ill  about 

ible,  and 
lanner  I 
3  taught 
my  aim; 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


359 


in  which  I  am  not  the  least  tired,  and  am  more  anxious 
to  go  forward  than  ever.  I  could  almost  lay  down  my 
life  for  an  abolitionist,  for  had  it  not  been  for  them  I 
should  have  been  in  slavery  still.  I  believe  the  Lord 
will  bless  them.  They  have  done  every  thing  for  me, 
and  it  makes  my  soul  melt  towards  them. 

I  recollect  that  my  master  in  Virginia  was  a  monstrous 
bad  man,  but  not  half  so  bad  as  some  others.  I  recol- 
lect that  my  mother  wanted  some  .alt  to  put  into 
bread.  My  mistress,  whenever  v.e  came  down  stairs, 
would  search  our  pockets,  to  see  if  we  had  taken  any 
thing.  I  went  up  to  get  some  salt  for  my  mother,  and 
put  half  a  pint  in  my  pocket.  My  mistress  said,  "  Let 
me  feel  your  pocket ! "  I  was  afraid  and  ran.  She 
called  her  son  to  catch  me,  as  I  had  got  something. 
He  caught  me  and  punished  me  very  heavily  with  a 
cowhide  —  be  beat  me  till  I  was  out  of  breath. 

In  Kentucky,  after  a  few  years,  the  old  man  died,  — 
I  fell  to  one  of  his  daughters  —  sVie  hired  me  out  to  a 
brother-in-law.  She  was  very  good  to  me.  I  was  hired 
out  eight  years  to  different  persons.  My  mistress  then 
died.  She  wanted  me  to  be  set  free.  Some  of  her  kins- 
f  Jks  said  no,  —  that  her  brother  had  had  bad  luck,  and 
Slit  had  better  will  me  to  him.  She,  being  bad  off,  being 
pick,  and  not  knowing  how  to  carry  her  mind,  —  she  did 
so :  she  willed  me  to  her  brother.  He  kept  me  seven  years 
working  on  the  farm.  He  was  going  to  move  into 
Campbell  Co.  I  had  a  wife  and  four  children.  To 
leave  me,  he  swapped  me  for  another  man.  I  lived 
with  him  about  thirteen  years.  He  was  a  very  clever 
man.  He  was  pretty  rich  —  a  sportsman,  gambler, 
horse-racer,   etc.     He   came   to   get  broke.     Then  we 

were  seized  and  sold.     J G bought  me.     My 

master  was  now   a   most   cruel  man.     There  was  a 


360 


THE  refugee;  op  a 


*« 


TO 


^, 

t         ^ 

5f-  '. 

1 

n 

'{ 

1 

'V       , 

•.^ 

V  '' 

'  1 

^+-. 

3 

great  many  who  had  a  high  regard  tor  me.  I  was  re- 
spected by  everybody — could  be  trusted,  no  matter  with 
what.  I  used  ^^  do  hia  mark(  ting,  going  to  Cincin- 
nati, sell  his  buffi  .  fiax-seed,  potatoes,  apples,  peaches, 
yarn  —  every  thing  —  rnd  took  every  copper  home.  I 
wanted  to  be  free,  but  was  afraid  to  undertake  it ;  for 
I  thought  if  I  were  taken  and  carried  back,  it  would  be 
a  great  disgrace  to  me,  as  I  was  always  trusted.  They 
thought  no  more  of  trusting  me  with  fifty  or  sixty  dol- 
lars in  their  stores  than  with  half  a  dollar.  I  made 
enough  raising  tobacco  nights  and  Sundays  to  come 
to  more  than  seventy  or  eighty  dollars  a  year.  I 
had  always  been  trusty,  and  had  been  foreman  on  the 
farm.  \, 

My  master  concluded  that  he  must  get  an  overseer. 
The  overseer  made  the  bargain,  that  he  was  not  to 
interfere  with  the  hands  at  all  —  what  he  wanted, 
he  '  /as  to  go  to  the  overseer,  who  was  to  order  the 
hands.  The  overseer  carried  on  very  well.  He  kept  us 
moving  from  Monday  morning  until  noon,  Saturday — 
then  we  left  work  until  Monday.  This  did  not  suit  mas- 
ter nor  mistress — it  was  a  little  too  much  privilege.  If 
the  fourth  of  July  or  a  holiday  was  a  Friday  we  had  it, 
and  Saturday  afternoon  as  before.  This  troubled  my 
master  more  than  ever.  He  began  to  get  very  uneasy. 
I  had  not  had  a  whipping  for  twenty  years,  and  I  said  if 
they  would  put  a  hand  on  me,  that  I  would  n't  stop 
any  longer.  The  overseer  observed,  that  he  had  made 
a  rule  that  three  boys  were  to  make  a  turn  about,  one 
one  Sunday,  and  another  the  next,  to  see  things  correct 
on  the  place.  I  had  a  wife  at  home,  and  was  there 
more  or  less  every  Sunday.  I  always  wanted  to  go  to 
meeting:  sometimes  I  would  stop  after  meeting,  but 
was  always  at  home  early  to  do  the  business. 


m\ 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP   SLAVERY. 


361 


was  re- 
;ter  with 

Cincin- 

peachea, 

ome.     I 

e  it ;  for 

k^ould  be 

Tliey 

ixty  dol- 

I  made 

to  come 

rear.      I 

n  on  the 

overseer, 
not  to 

wanted, 
>rder  the 
3  kept  us 
urday — 
iuit  mas- 
ege.  If 
e  had  it, 
bled  my 

uneasy. 
I  said  if 
n't  stop 
id  made 
out,  one 
3  correct 
as  there 
to  go  to 
ing,  but 


The  next  Sunday  after,  the  overseer  was  not  satisfied, 
because  none  of  us  hiul  atayod  at  home.  He  called 
me  down  to  the  barn,  —  he  had  a  cow-hide  under  his 
coat.  He  said,  why  did  n't  you  stay  at  home  yester- 
day ?  1  Id  him  I  wanted  to  go  to  church,  and  came 
honu  in  the  afternoon,  after  the  church  was  out.  "  I 
told  you  to  stay  at  home,"  said  he,  "  and  whatever  I 
t  on  to  lo,  you've  got  to  do  it."  The  -hipping  ho 
^  did  not  hurt  me  so  much  as  th    •  emuial  of  it, 

vhij  bO  old  a  man  as  I  was,  and  wb-^  l;ad  been 
no  i  ui  a  servant  as  I  had  been :  I  thought  it  un- 
sufl.  .10.  This  was  about  the  time  the  year  rolled 
round.  The  overseer's  time  was  out,  and  the  master 
took  his  place.     I  do  n't  suppose  I  could  tell  in  two 

hours  what  I  went  through In  the  spring  about 

the  1st  of  May,  he  had  the  corn  ground  broken  up  com- 
pletely. Planted  the  corn,  three  of  us,  fifty  acres.  After 
it  came  up  we  ploughed  in  it  before  holiday.  I  worked 
hard  to  try  to  please  my  master.  He  came  home  and 
asked  me,  "  Where  have  you  been  ploughing  ?  "  "  Such 
and  such  a  piece."  "  Is  that  all  yuu  've  ploughed  ?  "  I 
told  him  it  was.  "  Well,"  says  he,  "  I  could  plough 
more  land  in  one  day,  than  you  and  Dave  both  have 
ploughed."  It  was  as  big  a  lie  as  ever  was  told,  but  I 
did  nou  dare  contradict  him.  The  same  day,  he  started 
away  to  buy  up  cattle.  "  Now,"  s-iys  he,  "  I  '11  tell  you 
what  you've  got  to  do:  you've  got  all  this  field  to 
weed  out,  replant,  chop  all  the  big  briers  out,  then  go 
to  the  high-tower  place,  weed  out  that,  chop  out  all  the 
big  briers  and  replant  it :  then  go  down  to  old  Archy 
Rendle,  'and  do  the  same  there."  "  I  can't  do  that," 
says  I,  "  to-day  and  to-morrow."  "  I  do  n't  tell  you  to 
do  it  to-day  and  to-morrow,"  said  he,  "  you  've  to  do  it 
against  I  come  back,  if  you  do  n't  I  '11  thump  you."    He 

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363 


THB  refugee;  or  a 


w 


told  Ben  and  Dave  to  plough  the  same  fields  over  with 
two  furrows  in  a  row.  Monday  was  holiday ;  but  he 
said,  "  you  must  go  into  Monday  too : "  taking  aw^y 
our  holidays,  which  was  never  done  to  me  before. 

Finding  that  he  was  going  to  take  away  our  holi- 
days, —  we  all  resolved  to  break  and  run  8bwayJ  hit  or 
miss,  live  or  die.  There  were  thirteen  of  us  started 
away  in  company,  —  not  all  from  his  place.  One  of 
the  boys  went  down  to  Covington  and  made  the  ar- 
rangements. On  a  Sunday  night  we  made  our  break, 
^and.when  we  got  to  Covington,  it  was  daybreak  j  the 
garrison  were  up,  beating  their  dmms.  God  was  on 
our  side,  or  we  should  have  been  gone.  We  divided  (i^t 
the  last  toll-gate.  Some  going  through  the  gate  and 
myself  and  little  Henry  going  round.  We  then  found 
a  skiff  and  oars,  got  in  the  skiff  and  crossed  the  Ohio 
into  Cincinnati.  I  was  so  afraid  I  'd  see  somebody  that 
knew  me,  I  knew  not  what  to  do.  When  I  got  up  on 
Main  St.,  I  saw  a  great  black  smoke  coming  out  of  the 
chimney  of  a  steamboat  as  if  she  was  coming  right 
across,  —  I  was  certain  she  was  coming  after  me.  I 
met  draymen  who  said,  "  Are  you  travelling  ?  "  "  No, 
I  'm  going  up  on  the  hill,  to  see  my  brother."  My  wife 
was  nearly  about  to  give  out.  "Joe,"  said  she,  "do 
pray  stop  a  few  minutes  and  let  us  rest."  Said  I,  "  I 
cannot  stop, — if  you  want  to  stop  you  can,  but  I  must 
go  on.  I  caught  her  by  the  arm,  and  helped  her  on  to 
the  itop  of  the  hill.     There  I  met  a  friend  — 

[Mr.  Sandford's  narrative  was  here  interrupted.  The 
concluding  portion  of  his  fortunes  is  luckily  supplied, 
however,  in  the  narrative  which  follows.] 


■'Ar,*atK*»B»*»**.Wi^fi?j»r-V^-'»' 


\\ 


NORTH-BIOS  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


363 


)ver  with 
;  but  he 

ng  aw^y 

)re. 

our  holi- 

ay;  hit  or 
started 
One  of 
the  ar- 

mr  break, 
reakj  the 
I  was  on 
livided  \i^t 

gate  ai^d 
len  found 

the  Ohio 
body  that 
S[ot  up  on 
)ut  of  the 
ling  right 
jr  me.  I 
?"    «No, 

My  wife 
she,  "do 
laid  I, « I 
lit  I  must 
her  on  to 

ed.    The 
supplied, 


JOHN  HATFIELD. 

I  am  a  native  of  Pennsylvania ;  and  a  mulatto.  I 
wias  employed  as  a  barber  on  a  steamboat  plying  from 
New  Orleans  to  Cincinnati.  At  one  time,  while  in 
New  Orleans,  I  was  afraid  they  would  take  me  under 
the  law,  and  put  me  in  jail.  I  would  not  conceal  my- 
self on  board  the  boat,  but  went  up  and  stayed  with  a 
friend,  until  I  thought  it  time  for  the  boat  to  start.  But 
I  was  too  soon,  and  came  back  to  the  boat  the  day  be- 
fore she  sailed.  I  was  arrested,  ironed  in  the  street  to 
degrade  me,  and  put  in  the  jail,  where  I  remained 
twenty-three  hours.  I  found  in  the  jail  men  from  Bos- 
ton, New  York,  Baltimore,  and  other  places.  There 
was  a  chain-gang  in  there  rattling,  one  crazy  fellow 
shouting  — it  was  awful !  It  reminded  me  of  the  place 
of  torment  more  than  any  thing  else.  In  the  morning 
the  whip  was  cracking,  starting  out  the  chain-gang, 
just  as  one  would  start  up  horses.  They  measured  me, 
and  recorded  my  name.  I  had  committed  no  crime.  I 
never  felt  so  degraded  in  my  life.  If  I  had  murdered 
a  man  or  stolen  a  horse,  I  could  not  have  been  treated 
with  more  contempt.  A  friend  of  mine  sent  a  bed  to 
the  jail  for  mc  to  sleep  on  —  they  would  not  take  it 
in,  —  said  I  had  a  good  bed  —  it  was  a  plank  and  a 
blanket.  They  fed  me  on  baked  beans  and  pork,  and 
charged  me  eleven  dollars.  It  was  a  complete  system 
of  robbery.  They  make  thousands  of  dollars  so,  out 
of  the  poor  colored  people.  Still  New  Orleans  used 
to  be  the  best  place  in  the  Union  for  colored  people, 
after  they  got  the  right  of  citizenship :  but  I  am  told 
it  is  getting  to  be  harder  on  them  now. 

I  was  in  Cincinnati  when  thirteen  slaves  reached 


364 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


w 


there,  ranning  from  Kentucky.  They  got  there  at  seven 
*  or  eight  in  the  morning.  They  were  questioned  very 
closely  by  slave-catchers.  One,  pretending  to  be  their 
friend,  put  them  in  a  cellar,  and  was  guarding  them 
very  closely,  in  order  to  get  the  reward.  Among  the 
slaves  were  Joseph  Sanford  and  his  wife.  A  few  of  us 
hearing  of  it,  went  there  as  quick  as  possible,  and  found 
the  man  stopping  up  the  holes  in  the  cellar  to  keep 
people  from  seeing  them.  I  went  in  and  asked  Mrs. 
Sanford  if  she  knew  that  man.  She  said,  "  No  —  never 
saw  him  before."  I  said,  "  You  must  get  out  of  this." 
I  put  a  comrade  to  watch  the  man,  and  we  took  them 
out' two  at  a  time,  and  hid  them  in  various  parts  of  t^e 
city.  Their  pursuers  were  there  in  less  than  an  hottr. 
They  offered  large  rewards  to  any  one  who  would  just 
tell  what  square  they  were  in.  But  the  rewards  would 
not  fetch  them :  a  million  of  dollars  would  not  take  a 
slave  in  Cincinnati  out  of  some  people's  hands. 

They  stayed  concealed  a  fortnight,  and  then  myself 
and  others  guided  them  on  the  way  to  Michigan,  which 
they  reached  ir  ^^fety.  However,  they  were  afterwards 
all  captured  :  lichigan :  but  they  got  off  before  a 
judge,  and  were  then  sent  over  the  line  into  Canada. 

I  came  into  this  country  on  account  of  the  oppressive 
laws  of  the  United  States.  I  have  as  good  friends  in 
the,  United  States,  colored  and  white,  as  ever  a  man 
had,  —  I  never  expect  to  get  so  good  friends  again  — 
but  the  laws  were  against  me. 

I  never  felt  better  pleased  with  any  thing  I  ever  did 
in  my  life,  than  in  getting  a  slave  woman  clfear,  when 
her  master  was  taking  her  from  Virginia.  She  came 
on  board  a  steamboat  to  Cincinnati.  She  had  got  to  a 
friend's  house  in  the  city.  Word  came  to  my  ear  that 
too  many  knew  where  she  was.     I  went  there  and  told 


<ll. 


w 

at  seven 
)ned  very 

be  their 
ing  them 
nong  the 
few  of  us 
nd  found 

to  keep 
ked  Mrs. 

-  never 
of  this/' 
)ok  them 
rts  of  t^e 
an  hothr. 
ould  just 
'ds  would 
ot  take  a 

3. 

n  myself 
an,  which 
fterwards 

before  a 
anada. 
•ppressive 
jriends  in 
T  a  man 

again  — 

'.  ever  did 
sar,  when 
Ihe  came 
got  to  a 
ear  that 
and  told 


NORTH-SIDB  VIEW  OF  SLAVEBT. 


365 


the  friend;  he  thought  she  was  safe.  Then  I  went 
home  about  sundown  from  there,  and  about  dark  he 
came  to  me  —  he  told  me  they  had  been  there,  —  they 
came  to  the  back  door,  —  he  wrapped  her  in  a  blanket, 
took  her  out  of  a  front  window,  and  took  her  across  the 
street.  A  man  asked  him  what  he  had  there.  *^  A  sick 
man."  He  took  her  to  another  friend's  house  across 
the  street :  that  house  was  next  surrounded.  I  took  a 
young  man's  clothes  (he  lived  at  my  house)  and  dressed 
her  in  them, — we  came  out  at  a  gate  near  by,  we 
crossed  over  the  street ;  —  there  were  five  or  six  persons 
then  coming  towards  us  —  all  I  could  say  was,  "  walk 
heavy ! "  for  they  came  right  upon  us.  They  walked 
with  us  half  a  square  —  I  was  scared  only  for  her. 
They  stopped  a  little  —  we  got  fifty  yards  ahead  of 
them.  I  then  told  her,  "  they  are  coming  again,  —  hold 
your  head  up,  and  walk  straight  and  heavy ! "  By  this 
time  they  were  up  with  us  again  :  they  walked  with  us 
a  whole  square,  looking  right  in  her  face,  trying  to  rec- 
ognize her.  We  came  to  where  there  was  a  light 
opposite,  —  I  did  not  want  to  have  her  come  to  the 
light,  —  I  turned  the  corner  and  said,  "  Come  this  way, 
Jim."  She  understood,  and  followed  me.  Upon  this, 
they  turned  and  walked  away  as  fast  as  they  could 
walk.  What  I  said  had  the  effect.  I  put  her  in  a  safe 
place,  and  took  a  turn  back  again :  I  wanted  to  have 
some  fun.  There  were  about  a  dozen  standing  at  the 
corner,  near  the  house  where  they  supposed  she  was, 
talking  about  it.  I  went  into  a  corner  house,  —  there 
were  several  of  us  in  there,  and  we  went  to  laughing 
and  talking  about  it :  we  did  this  on  purpose  to  make 
-fun  of  them.  They  went  away  to  a  house,  and  said 
they  had  seen  the  "  nigger "  dressed  in  men's  clothes, 
but  that  they  were  afraid  to  take  her,  there  were  so 

31* 


>-"' 


366 


KORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  BLAVERT. 


w 


many  "  niggers "  round.  There  was  no  one  with  hei 
but  me,  but  they  did  not  want  to  have  it  appear  they 
were  beaten  so  badly.  We  had  a  good  deal  of  sport 
out  of  it,  —  the  woman  we  called  "  Jim,"  as  long  as  she 
stayed  there.  She  came  to  the  North  at  last.  I  have 
had  fifteen  runaways  harbored  in  my  house  at  on^  time 
—  in  one  year,  twenty-seven. 


W 


/I 


i 


vith  hei 
;ar  they 
of  sport 
g  as  she 
I  have 
m^  time 


COLCHESTER. 


\ 


This  beautiful  farming  town,  on  the  northern  shore 
of  Lake  Erie,  contains  a  population  not  far  from  1,500, 
of  whom  about  450  are  colored  persons. 

The  reeve  of  the  town,  Peter  Wright,  Esq.,  informed 
me  that  much  of  the  land  which  has  been  opened  to 
cultivation  was  cleared  by  fugitive  slaves.  They  leased 
portions  of  wild  land  for  a  term  of  years,  and  by  the 
time  they  had  made  a  good  clearing,  they  were  obliged 
to  go  somewhere  else.  The  amount  of  crime  among 
them  was  no  more  than  might  have  bfeen  expected  from 
so  ignorant  and  unenlightened  a  people.  But  as  a 
whole,  there  is  a  manifest  improvement  in  respect  to 
honesty,  and  in  their  general  deportment. 

They  have  the  same  opportunity  to  instruct  their 
children  as  is  enjoyed  by  the  whites,  —  that  is,  they 
draw  their  share  of  the  school  funds,  and  the  trustees 
are  bound  to  employ  competent  teachers.  It  would  be 
convenient  sometimes  to  employ  teachers  from  the 
United  States,  but  in  that  case  they  cannot  draw  gov- 
ernment money. 

The  fugitive  slave  bill  drove  into  Canada  a  great 
many  who  had  resided  in  the  free  States :  these  brought 
some  means  with  them,  and  their  efforts  and  good 
example  have  improved  the  condition  of  the  older 
settlers. 

(867) 


868 


THE  refugee;   OB  A 


The  town  clerk  of  Colchester  coincided  in  the  main 
with  Mr.  Wright,  but  expressed  himself  in  more  positive 
terms  on  the  general  improvement  of  the  colored  race. 
They  have,  however,  I  fear,  but  few  friends  among  the 
white  settlers.  "  They  ought  to  be  by  themselves ; "  "  if 
we  try  to  encourage  them,  we  shall  have  to  mix  with 
them,"  —  these  and  similar  expressions  are  very  com- 
mon. There  are  not  many  who  wish  to  see  the  colored 
people  come  up  to  an  equal  rank  with  themselves,  polit- 
ically or  otherwise.  The  True  Bands  even  begin  to 
form  an  object  of  groundless  distrust. 

Mr.  Benj.  Knapp,  a  native  of  the  town,  an  intelligent 
farmelr^  and  who  is  one  of  the  assessors,  gave  me  somQ 
information,  which,  with  a  few  items  from  other  sources)* 
and  the  statements  of  the  colored  people  themselves, 
will  show  the  state  of  things  in  Colchester. 

The  school  system  is  not  so  well  organized  as  in 
some  of  the  States,  sectarianism  and  prejudice  interfere 
too  much :  the  law  allows  too  many  separate  schools 
paid  for  out  of  the  public  funds. 

The  front  part  of  the  township  along  Lake  Erie  is 
well  cleared  up.  The  farms  in  this  part  belong  to  white 
settlers,  native  Canadians.  In  the  interior  there  is  yet 
a  great  deal  of  wild  lands  :  to  clear  these  up  must  be  a 
work  of  time.  Back  of  the  cleared  farms  on  the  Lake 
shore,  are  farms  owned  mostly  by  whites,  as  far  back  as 
the  fourth  concession,  with  here  and  there  a  farm  owned 
by  a  colored  man.  These  farms  are  not  generally  so 
thoroughly  nor  so  neatly  cultivated  as  those  of  the 
whites ;  though  there  are  some  white  men's  farms  no 
better  than  theirs. 

In  regard  to  fugitives,  there  is  not  one  who  cannot 
find  work  within  a  few  hours  after  he  gets  here.  There 
is  no  trouble  about  that :  "  we  can't  get  men  enough 
to  do  our  work." 


/  y 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


369 


3  mam 
>ositive 
d  race, 
mg  the 
s;"«if 
ix  with 
y  com- 
colored 
s,  polit- 
egin  to 

elligent 
,6  some 
sources)' 
nselveS) 

d  as  in 

interfere 

schools 

Erie  is 
to  white 
B  is  yet 
ast  be  a 
le  Lake 
back  as 
1  owned 
irally  so 

of  the 
irms  no 


Beyond  the  fourth  concession,  *<  farms  belonging  to 
white  and  colored  are  mixed  in."  This  is  a  newly  set- 
tled part ;  it  is  within  a  few  years  that  farmers  have 
begun  to  settle  there.  Colored  people  have  penetrated 
further  into  the  woods  than  any  of  the  whites  :  they  are 
scattered  all  through  the  township  up  to  the  sixth  con- 
cession. They  are  settled  both  north  and  south  of  the 
old  Maiden  road :  none  would  have  ventured  there  but 
them :  they  are  all  anxious  to  own  land :  they  go  in 
anywhere  they  can  make  a  claim,  and  clear  up  a  patch. 
But  their  ignorance  stands  most  wofully,  and  in  some 
cases  insurmountably,  in  their  way.  Instances  of  this 
sort  are  said  to  have  occurred:  a  settler  for  instance 
takes  a  farm  of  100  acres,  appraised  value  $200,  with 
ten  years  to  pay  for  it  in.  He  pays  $12  a  year  interest 
for  ten  years,  supposing  meanwhile  that  he  is  paying 
up  the  principal.  He  do  nH  understand  tY,  —  and  when 
the  ten  years  have  come  round,  he  has  not  got  the  $200, 
and  must  leave  his  clearing. 

The  colored  people  send  their  children  to  school,  when 
they  have  schools,  and  seem  anxious  to  send  their  chil- 
dren to  school.  The  "  Colonial  Church  and  School 
Society  "  have  noted  this  town  as  a  school  station. 

The  settlemc  spoken  of  above  where  the  colored 
people  have  "  pen  itrated  into  the  woods,"  is  known  as 
New  Canaan.  It  is  a  prosperous  settlement,  in  which 
the  element  of  progress  is  strikingly  manifest.  ., 


cannot 

There 

enough 


ROBERT    NELSON. 

I  was  born  in  Orange  county,  Va.     My  mother  was 
sold  away  from  me  before  I  can  remember.     I  was 


370 


THE  REIUQEE;  OB  A 


\t 


taken  from  Virginia  at  seven,  and  remained  there  in 
Kentucky,  in  Boone  county,  until  forty-seven.  While 
I  was  in  slavery,  I  belonged  to  a  man  who  used  me  as 
he  did  his  children,  except  that  he  gave  me  no  educa- 
cation.     I  cannot  write  or  read. 

My  master  got  involved,  and  I  was  mortgaged.  The 
mortgage  was  out  and  closed,  — the  sheriff  got  aftei 
me,  and  I  ran  to  Canada.  I  was  to  have  been  taken  to 
a  cotton  farm  in  Louisiana.  This  was  in  April,  1845. 
I  left  without  money.  I  had  heard  about  the  abolition- 
ists, but  was  afraid  of  them :  I  thought  no  white  men 
would  do  what  they  said  the  abolitionists  would  do.  I 
had  been  told  that  they  would  sell  us.  So  I  was  afraid 
to  trust  them.  The* abolitionists  wanted  to  have  ai 
meeting  to  raise  money  for  me,  but  I  slipped  out  of 
their  hands.  After  I  got  here,  I  found  they  were  all 
true. 

Some  persons  who  wanted  to  betray  me,  told  me  I 
could  not  live  in  Canada.  I  came  in  without  a  shilling. 
I  now  own  a  house  and  one  hundred  and  one  acres  of 
land.  I  have  averaged  about  fifteen  acres  of  land  a 
year  that  I  cultivated,  having  myself  two  thirds  of  the 
crop.  This  enabled  me  to  support  myself  and  family, 
and  buy  land.  My  wife  belonged  to  another  man.  I 
sent  on  and  bought  her  for  $400. 

It  is  reported  throughout  the  world,  that  colored  peo- 
ple cannot  live  here :  I  have  been  here  ten  years,  and 
have  seen  no  one  starving  yet.  Any  man  that  will 
work  can  get  $10  or  $12  a  month,  cash,  and  more  if  he 
takes  it  in  trade.  I  can  raise  corn  sixty  or  seventy 
bushels  to  the  acre,  as  good  corn  as  ever  was  raised  in 
the  South.  It  has  Keen  stated  that  the  colored  popula- 
tion are  lazy,  and  won't  work.  The  principal  part  all 
work.  This  report  has  been  got  out  by  begging  agents, 
to  fill  their  own  podkets  by  raising  money. 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


371 


The  prejudice  is  higher  here  in  this  place  than  in  any 
part  of  Canada.  It  arises  from  a  wish  to  keep  the  col- 
ored people  so  that  they  can  get  their  labor.  They 
used  to  work  for  the  whites,  but  they  only  received  half 
price,  and  cases  have  been  known  where,  for  ten  pounds 
of  pork,  the  laborer  received  five.  The  fugitive,  as  ig- 
norant of  figures  as  a  hog  is  of  holiday,  had  cunning 
enough  to  go  to  another  place  and  get  it  weighed.  By 
thes^  means,  the  colored  people  became  unwilling  to 
work  for  the  whites,  and  tried  to  make  themselves  inde- 
pendent. They  began  to  take  up  land  and  work  for 
themselves :  of  course  the  whites  could  not  hire  them. 
They  have  consequently  become  freeholders,  and  are  of 
some  consequence  at  the  polls. 

The  colored  people  have  cleared  up  two  thirds  of 
what  has  been  cleared  in  this  township.  Those  who 
came  first,  bought  lands  of  individuals  and  lost  them 
again :  but  when  they  began  to  buy  of  the  government, 
they  began  to  have  good  claims  on  the  land. 

Some,  when  they  first  came,  would  take  a  lease  of  a 
few  acres  of  wild  land,  for  six  or  seven  years.  By  the 
time  they  had  got  it  cleared,  and  removed  some  of  the 
stumps,  the  lease  was  out.  Then  the  white  man  said, 
"you  can't  have  that  piece  anymore,  —  you  must  go 
back  in  the  bush."  They  found  they  must  do  different 
from  this.  They  began  to  work  on  the  land  for  them- 
selves, and  to  get  farms  of  their  own.  Now  because 
the  white  men  cannot  hire  them,  they  say  the  colored 
people  won't  work. 

They  say,  too,  that  the  colored  people  steal.  It  may 
be  that  a  few  are  a  little  light-fingered,  they  take,  per- 
haps, a  few  small  articles,  and  the  greatest  mischief  is, 
it  scandalizes  us.  What  two  or  three  bad  fellows  do, 
prejudice  lays  to  the  whole  of  us.    But  some  white 


872 


THB  refuqeb;  or  a 


men  have  stolen  on  the  credit  of  the  colored.  It  is  very 
easy  to  say  when  a  thing  is  missed,  —  '<  O,  't  is  some 
colored  man  stole  it,"  —  although,  it  has,  to  my  knowl- 
edge, been  proved,  that  when  theft  was  charged  on  a 
colored  man,  it  turned  out  that  a  white  man  did  it. 

There  is  a  settlement  here  called  New  Canaan,  where 
was  a  large  body  of  wild  land.  Colored  people  went 
in  and  took  it  up  at  one  hundred  acres  apiece.  I  guess 
there  may  be  now  forty  families.  [In  1852,  there  *were 
twenty  families.]  They  paid  the  first  instalment,  and 
had  ten  years  to  pay  in.  But  three  quarters  of  them 
have  abeady  paid  the  whole  price,  and  got  the  deeds, 
and  ere  making  good  improvements  on  their  lands, 
making  enough  to  support  their  families.  The  preach^ 
ing  of  the  gospel  is  regularly  kept  up. 

My  wish  to  the  people  of  the  States  is,  to  give  no 
more  money  to  the  begging  agencies.  If  they  wish  to 
give  money  to  the  fugitives  and  the  sick,  it  should  be 
given  to  the  True  Band  societies,  who  can  disburse  it 
as  it  is  wanted.     The  Band  will  attend  to  the  fugitives. 


DAVID  6RIEB. 

I  was  born  free  in  Maryland, — was  stolen  and  sold 
in  Kentucky,  when  between  eight  and  nine  years  old. 
In  Kentucky  I  was  set  free  by  will,  and  as  they  were 
trying  to  break  the  will  up,  some  of  my  claimant's 
friends  persuaded  me  to  come  off  to  Ohio.  From  Ohio, 
I  came  here  on  account  of  the  oppressive  laws  demand- 
ing security  for  good  behavior,  —  I  was  a  stranger  and 
could  not  give  it.  I  had  to  leave  my  family  in  Ken- 
tacky. 


^l^dJMfcfcv-^.-^-i-——. 


«      *>' 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


373 


lis  very 
is  some 
'  knowl- 
ed  on  a 
lit. 

1,  where 
)le  went 
I  guess 
Bre*were 
mt,  and 
of  them 
e  deeds, 


r 


lands, 
preach^ 


give  no 

wish  to 

lould  be 

sburse  it 

ugitives. 


aiid  sold 
ears  old. 
ley  were 
aimant's 
tm  Ohio, 
demand- 
iger  and 
in  Ken- 


I  came  in  1831.  I  have  cleared  land  on  lease  for  five 
or  six  years,  then  have  to  le«ve  it,  and  go  into  the  bush 
again.  I  worked  so  about  thirteen  years.  I  could  do 
no  better,  and  the  white  people,  I  believe,  took  advan- 
tage of  it  to  get  the  land  cleared.  This  has  kept  me 
poor.  I  guess  I  have  cleared  not  short  of  seventy  or 
eighty  acres,  and  got  no  benefit.  I  have  now  six  acres 
cleared. 


EPHRAIM  WATERFORD. 

I  was  born  free  ;  was  bound  until  twenty-one,  in  Vir- 
ginia. The  man  I  was  bound  out  to,  was  to  teach  me 
to  read  and  write,  but  did  not  —  never  gave  me  any 
education  at  all. 

I  came  into  Indiana  in  the  spring  that  James  K.  Polk 
was  made  President.  I  stayed  there  till  about  two 
years  ago.  I  left  on  account  of  oppression  in  Indiana. 
I  had  a  farm  there  of  forty  acres  paid  for,  and  I  had 
the  deed.  A  law  was  passed  that  a  colored  man  could 
not  devise  real  estate  to  his  wife  and  children,  and  there 
were  other  equally  unjust  laws  enacted.  I  told  them 
"if  that  was  a  republican  government,  I  would  try  a 
monarchical  one."  Between  thirty  and  forty  of  us, 
little  and  big,  came  over  at  the  same  time.  I  have  a 
farm  here  of  two  hundred  acres  wild  land :  I  have  five 
acres  under  fence  in  corn  now.  E.  Casey  and  S.  Casey 
came  over  at  the  same  time.  They  are  doing  first-rate. 
Both  have  farms  on  the  1st  concession  —  I  think  be- 
tween twenty-five  and  thirty  acres  under  fence  together. 

There  is  prejudice  right  smart  in  some  places  in  this 
town.     We  try  to  live  as  upright  as  we  can,  get  a  little 

32 


374 


THE  eefugee;  or  a 


/ 


stock,  etc.  The  whites  can  easily  hire  any  colored  man 
who  has  no  work  to  do  for  himself.  A  great  many  are 
doing  hired  work  about  the  town  to-day  —  hired  more 
by  white  men  than  by  colored,  the  white  being  mor6 
able.  I  intend  to  give  my  child  as  good  an  education 
as  I  can.  .  ,  ,  ,. 


>?     > 


•1     i/   '   ' 


ELI  ARTIS. 

I  have  twenty-five  acres  of  land,  bought  and  paid  for, 
—  about  eight  acres  cleared.  I  am  often  hired  out,  anft 
never  refuse  to  work  where  I  can  get  my  pay,  and  have 
often  wG-'icd  when  I  got  no  pay.  The  colored  peo- 
ple are  industrious,  and  if  any  say  they  are  not  willing 
to  work,  it  is  a  lie,  and  I  '11  say  so,  and  sign  my  name 
to  it.       f 

I  suffered  from  mean,  oppressive  laws  in  my  native 
State,  Ohio,  or  I  would  not  have  been  in  this  country. 
I  have  lived  here  fourteen  years. 


EPHRAIM  CASEY. 


I  am  from  the  State  of  Georgia,  where  I  was  born 
free.  But  the  laws  were  no  better  about  learning  for  a 
free  man  than  for  a  slave.  I  was  never  sent  to  a  school 
in  my  life.  My  opportunities  for  religious  information 
were  poor.  I  am  now  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.     At  about  twenty-three,  I  emigrated  to  Indiana, 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW  OP   SLAVERY. 


375 


red  man 
nany  are 
red  more 
Qg  more 
ducation 


paid  for, 
out,  an<| 
and  have 
)red  peo- 
)t  willing 
my  name 

ny  native 
3  country. 


carrying  no  property.  In  Indiana,  I  attended  to  farm- 
ing. I  had  a  farm  there,  and  when  I  left,  owned  one 
hundred  and  eighteen  acres.  I  left  on  principle  —  on 
account  of  the  laws.  I  liked  the  country  very  welL 
The  laws  bore  hard  on  :ne  before  I  came  away  —  I  had 
a  case  in  law,  and  could  not  prove  my  side  good  by  the 
evidence  of  colored  men,  which  caused  me  a  loss  of 
fifty  or  sixty  dollars.  I  did  not  feel  disposed  to  stand 
this,  and  emigrated  into  Canada. 

I  settled  in  Colchester,  where  I  bought  out  a  white 
settler,  land  and  stock,  for  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars. The  farm  was  sixty  acres,  one  half  improved: 
seventeen  head  of  hogs,  and  five  head  of  cattle.  There 
was  no  good  water  there.  He  had  dug  in  a  few  places, 
but  got  no  supply.  I  sunk  a  weli  twenty-eight  feet, 
and  the  water  now  rises  and  runs  over  the  surface,  a 
stream  eighteen  inches  deep ;  enough  to  supply  water 
for  a  steam  saw-mill.  I  have  growing  eight  or  ten 
acres  of  corn,  five  or  six  in  wheat,  two  or  three  in  oats, 
some  potatoes,  and  other  vegetables.  The  land  is  bet- 
ter than  where  I  was  in  Indiana. 

I  moved  in,  two  years  ago  last  May.  I  have  hired 
colored  men  to  work  for  me  whenever  I  wanted  their 
help,  and  have  seen  them  hired  by  others :  but  they 
prefer,  so  far  as  I  know,  to  work  for  themselves,  and  to 
get  an  independent  living. 


was  born 
ning  for  a 
3  a  school 
formation 
Methodist 
0  Indiana, 


REV.  WILLIAM  RUTH. 

'  I  am  a  native  of  Bourbon  county,  Ky.,  left  there  at 
twenty-seven,  and  have  resided  principally  in  Colches- 
ter since  1825. 


376 


THE  refugee;   OB  A 


'i    .'i 


.1^ 


'      t  I    'I 


I  never  met  with  any  rough  usage  in  slavery.  It 
was  expected  that  I  would  be  set  at  liberty  at  thirty-one, 
by  the  will  of  my  former  master ;  but  as  there  was  sup- 
posed to  be  a  disposition  not  to  give  me  a  fair  chance, 
I  was  assisted  off  by  a  man  who  was  a  slaveholder 
himself.  There  are  a  great  many  such  movements 
there. 

I  was  young  when  I  left  there,  but  often  saw  separa- 
tions of  families  by  sales  and  by  hiring.  I  happened 
to  fall  to  an  Irishman,  who  was  a  good  sort  of  a  man 
—  an  extraordinary  man  for  a  slaveholder  —  in  advance 
of  all  the  county  for  kindness  to  his  slaves. 

I  have  fifty  acres  of  land  under  fence,  and  had  it  all 
cleared  and  improved  years  ago.  It  is  well  supplied 
with  water.  I  have  an  orchard  with  a  good  assortment 
of  fruits  —  apples,  pears,  and  peaches.  It  is  one  of  the 
best  farms  in  Colchester.  I  own  seventy  acres  besides 
in  New  Canaan. 

New  Canaan  is  going  to  be  one  of  the  finest  and 
most  beautiful  places.  It  has  every  advantage  neces- 
sary to  make  it  a  fine  settlement.  It  is  covered  with 
heavy  timber,  and  has  a  first-rate  soil.  The  settlers 
are  doing  extraordinarily  for  the  time  they  have  been 
there. 

The  colored  people  have  their  inferior  class  as  well 
as  other  people ;  I  mean  a  careless,  loafing,  negligent, 
vicious  class  —  and  they  have  their  turn  in  prison,  like 
other  persons  of  that  sort.  We  do  n't  claim  to  be  bet- 
ter than  other  people,  but  we  claim  to  be  as  good. 

In  regard  to  education,  we  are  destitute  of  it,  as  a 
general  thing.  But  the  prospect  is  advancing.  The 
government  schools  are  kept  up.  The  rising  genera- 
tion are  improving. 

My  candid  opinion  in  regard  to  raising  money  in  the 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP   SLAVERY. 


377 


very.  It 
lirty-one, 
was  sup- 
r  chance, 
Lveholder 
jvements 

V  separa- 

lappened 

f  a  man 

advance 

ad  it  all 
supplied 
sortment 
le  of  the 
besides 


United  States  for  fugitives  is,  that  they  should  have  an 
agent  here  whom  they  can  place  confidence  in,  and 
have  him  expend  it  under  the  direction  of  a  committee 
of  white  men  belonging  to  the  province.  I  would  have 
the  board  white,  in  order  to  bring  the  races  more  to  an 
understanding  and  better  feeling  towards  each  other ; 
another  reason  is,  that  the  colored  population  have  not 
generally  had  the  opportunity  to  learn  how  to  transact 
business.  They  might,  as  they  improve,  be  placed 
on  the  board. 

The  society  over  which  I  am  placed,  is  connected 
with  the  Wesley  or  New  Connexion  in  Canada.  I 
preach  every  Sabbath,  generally  two  or  three  times  a 
day.  They  pay  good  attention  to  religion,  and  as  a 
general  thing  are  a  moral  people.  The  laws  of  chastity 
are  well  observed  :  in  this  they  excel  the  whites. 


nest  and 
^e  neces- 
;red  with 
;  settlers 
ave  been 


32 


as  well 
egligent, 
Lsun,  like 
0  be  bet- 
od. 

f  it,  as  a 
g.  The 
\  genera- 


y  in  the 


i, 


•  *■ , 


j.  i<7 


Jv 


[\  '4fe,       ]jj^   !• 
'HI        ^    • 


ll^ 


GOSFIELD. 


Numbers  nearly  2,600  inhabitants.    The  whole  col- 
ored [Population,  by  actual  count,  is  78. 

Of  the  heads  of  families,  all  but  two  or  three  are^\ 
freeholders,  and  some  of  them  have  very  good  farms. 
Jame3  King,  Esq.,  Clerk  of  the  Courts  for  the  County 
of  Essex,  C.  W.,  thus  characterized  the  colored  people 
of  Gosfield :  "  They  are  good,  loyal  subjects,  and  good, 
honest  people.  They  are  as  moral  as  any  people. 
There  is  no  fault  to  be  found  with  them  at  all." 


JOHN  CHAPMAN. 

I  was  originally  from  Kentucky,  but  removed  into 
Indiana  at  fourteen.  I  did  not  feel  safe  in  Indiana,  and 
removed  with  my  family  into  Canada  at  Gosfield. 
Then  it  was  pretty  much  all  bush.  The  farmers  raised 
but  little  more  than  they  wanted  themselves.  One 
raises  as  much  now  as  twenty  did  then.  It  was  hard 
to  get  a  start  when  I  came  to  this  country. 

There  are  now  seventy-eight  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren :  when  I  came  there  were  but  three  colored.     We 

(8T8) 


\l 


hole  col- 

hree  are* 
d  farms. 
I  County 
d  people 
id  good, 
people. 


ved  into 
ana,  and 
Gosfield. 
Ts  raised 
i.  One 
vas  hard 

id.    We 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OF   SLAVERY. 


379 


live  like  rich  folks,  but  when  we  came  I  was  almost 
discouraged. 

They  are  generally  getting  along  as  well  as  could  be 
expected.  All  make  a  good  living.  Most  of  them  own 
houses  and  land.  They  generally  attend  divine  service, 
and  send  their  children  to  school  when  it  is  open.  It  is 
not  kept  up  in  the  summer. 


THOMAS  JOHNSON. 

I  was  raised  in  Virginia,  which  I  left  with  my  master 
for  Kentucky,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  Twenty  years 
after  we  moved,  my  master  died,  and  I  remained  with 
my  mistress  taking  care  of  the  farm.  I  used  to  take  a 
great  deal  of  care  of  the  place,  seeing  to  the  farming 
operations,  and  have  been  to  Cincinnati  to  sell  produce. 
The  people  all  considered  me  trustworthy  and  honora- 
ble, and  some  of  the  white  people  said  I  could  make 
greater  crops  than  they  could. 

I  had  a  wife  and  several  children  on  a  neighboring 
farm.  She  wished  to  leave  for  Canada,  with  the  three 
youngest  children.  I  gave  her  money  and  she  got  away 
into  Canada  safe  enough.  As  soon  as  she  was  gone,  I 
was  seized  and  put  in  jail  —  her  owners  said,  if  they 
shut  up  the  hen  they  could  soon  find  the  chickens. 
They  asked  me  in  the  jail,  "  if  I  knew  she  was  going  ?  " 
I  asked  them  "  if  they  knew  the  height  and  size  of  my 
wife?"  They  said  they  did.  "Well,"  I  told  them, 
"that  is  my  life  —  and  if  your  wife  has  done  as  many 
pretty  things  for  you,  as  mine  has  for  me,  would  n't  you 
be  willing  to  give  her  a  little  money  to  help  her?"  In 
a  few  days,  I  was  let  out.     I  still  continued  on  the 


1 


I 

\ 


1 


\\ 


380 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


w 


i'*" 


"^. 


farm  attending  faithfully  to  my  work  —  but  my  mistress' 
friends,  suspecting  that  when  she  died,  I  would  run  off 
to  rejom  my  wife,  persuaded  her  to  sell  me.  One  day, 
eighteen  months  after  my  wife  left,  I  was  sent  for  to 
the  house.  I  wertt  in,  and  asked  my  mistress  what  was 
wanting.  "  Oh,  dear ! "  said  she,  "  I  don't  know, 
Thomas."  But  I  know  what  'twas  for.  Said  I, 
"  When  our  Saviour  was  on  earth,  they  could  make  out 
nothing  against  him,  till  they  got  false  witnesses,  —  and 
there  are  false  witnesses  against  me." 

I  was  kept  at  the  house  that  night,  in  charge  of  three 
men,  but  was  not  put  into  strict  confinement.  The 
next  morning,  one  of  them  produced  a  pair  of  handcuffs 
connected  with  a  long  chain,  and  said,  "  we  must  put 
these  on,  Thomas."  I  said,  "  You  will  not  put  them  on 
to  me,  —  I  have  done  nothing  for  which  I  should  wear 
such  things  as  them."  "  I  '11  tell  you  the  truth,  Thomas," 
said  he,  "  we  are  going  to  send  you  down  the  river." 

I  was  sitting  at  the  grunsel,  and  as  I  sat,  I  carefully 
slipped  oft'  my  boots,  then  jumped  up  and  ran  for  the 
woods.  They  ran  after  me  a  short  distance.  I  had 
thirty-five  dollars  in  my  coat  pocket,  which  came 
in  the  way,  running.  I  held  it  up  in  my  hand,  and  as  I 
did  so,  turned  to  look  behind  me.  My  mistress'  son 
was  at  a  fence,  and  he  called  out,  "  Thomas !  o-o-h, 
Tho-o-mas  I  "  pitifully.  No  one  was  now  following  me. 
I  hid  in  the  woods.  I  could  not  realize  it  —  I  sat  down 
on  a  stump,  and  said  to  myself,  "  is  n't  this  a  dream  ?  " 
I  could  not  realize  that  I  had  done  such  a  thing  as  to 
run  away  —  it  seemed  so  low.  I  —  that  had  always 
been  trusted,  and  had  served  faithfully  —  to  be  a  runa- 
iioay  at  last. 

That  night,  I  crossed  the  river  to  Cincinnati.  From 
this  place  I  sent  a  letter  to  a  man  in  Kentucky,  that  if 


m 


w 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  SLAVERY. 


381 


listress' 
run  off 
ne  day, 

for  to 
lat  was 

know, 
Said  I, 
ike  out 

—  and 

>f  three 
The 
ndcuffs  , 
List  put 
hem  on 
Id  wear 
lomas," 
^er.» 
arefully 

for  the 

I  had 

1   came 

md  as  I 

;ss'  son 

!  o-o-h, 
ing  me. 
it  down 
ream  ?  " 
ig  as  to 

always 

a  runor 

From 
that  if 


he  would  buy  me,  I  would  return  and  live  with  him. 
He  showed  the  letter  to  my  folks,  and  they  wrote  me  to 
come  back,  promising  a  great  many  things.  My  letter 
was  dated  Cleveland,  but  I  was  in  Cincinnati.  I 
thought  as  I  was  now  away  from  them,  I  might  as 
well  go  on  to  Canada.  I  aimed  for  Toronto,  but  on 
my  way  fell  in  with  a  man  on  board  the  boat,  who 
knew  where  my  wife  and  children  lived  in  Maiden. 
I  went  there  and  joined  them:  and  since  that  time, 
three  others  of  my  children  have  made  their  escape 
and  are  here. 

I  hired  a  piece  of  land  in  Maiden  for  three  years.  It 
was  not  cleared,  —  I  cleared  it :  then  my  lease  was  up, 
and  I  rented  a  farm  fifty  dollars  a  year  for  five  years. 
When  I  took  it,  the  fence  was  down.  I  fixed  it  up, 
and  cleared  more.  Then  I  told  my  folks  that  I  would 
have  a  piece  of  land  of  my  own.  They  thought  I 
could  not  pay  for  it.  I  told  them  if  they  put  a  piece 
of  ice  on  a  log  in  the  sun,  they  would  see  the  ice  melt 
away,  —  so,  said  I,  our  strength  is  melting  away.  I 
took  a  piece  of  fifty  acres,  six  acres  cleared,  at  five  dol- 
lars an  acre,  and  I  have  got  the  clear  deed  of  it.  Oth- 
ers have  done  the  same,  and  are  doing  it  now.  I  do  n't 
want  anybody  to  beg  for  me  in  the  United  States. 


ELI  JOHNSON. 

In  slavery,  we  are  goods  and  chattels,  and  have  no 
surname  :  but  slaves  generally  take  their  master's  name. 

I  was  born  and  raised  in  old  Virginia,  Orange  Co., 
till  I  was  thirty.  My  treatment  there  was  only  mid- 
dling.   After  thirty,  I  was  sold  to  a  trader,  and  carried 


382 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


w 


•t   .1 


.1-   ( 


i,( 


l!«f 


to  Natchez.  I  was  then  sold  at  auction  for  $1,300, — 
put  on  a  cotton  farm,  and  allowed  a  peck  of  corn  u 
week  and  three  pounds  meat,  —  was  called  sometimes 
an  hour  to  day,  sometimes  less,  —  must  be  on  hand  else 
got  the  whip.  If  there  was  deemed  sufficient  cause,  if 
there  was  any  word,  or  the  least  thing  they  did  not  like, 
the  man  was  staked  down  for  four  hundred  lashes.  I 
saw  a  man  staked  down  and  whipped  one  Sunday,  un- 
til the  blood  lay  in  a  pool  on  each  side  of  him.  It  was 
through  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  that  I  endured  the  perse- 
cution put  upon  me,  —  I  suffered  a  great  deal  there,  — 
and  but  for  the  fear  of  the  Lord  and  the  worth  of  my 
own  soul,  I  should  have  murdered  the  overseer.  When  \\ 
I  first  went  it  was  a  warm  climate  :  I  had  to  drink  the 
muddy  water  of  the  river,  which  made  me  sick  and 
weakened  me  down.  Every  day  I  was  threatened  with 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  lashes,  if  T  complained  of  being 
sick.  I  had  to  keep  on  :  being  of  strong  constitution  I 
began  to  mend,  and  endured  all  they  put  on  me  for  six 
years. 

My  wife  was  with  me,  and  was  made  to  suffer  worse 
than  I.  I  was  in  constant  fear  of  the  lash,  but"  made 
out  to  plead  off,  although  the  whipping  seemed  to  be 
sometimes,  just  to  keep  their  hand  in.  Many  men  and 
women  were  punished  with  a  paddle  and  whip.  I  had 
to  make  paddles  with  twelve  holes  in  them.  A  block 
lay  in  the  cotton  yard  over  which  they  were  placed  to 
be  paddled.  I  saw  them  take  one  man  and  paddle  him, 
then  they  struck  him  with  a  handsaw,  then  with  a  bull 
whip:  then  they  ordered  me  to  lock  the  biggest  log 
chain  I  could  find  on  the  place  around  his  neck  with 
the  biggest  lock,  and  keep  him  at  my  house  until  next 
morning.  I  w^cnt  out  in  the  field  leaving  him  at  the 
house,  not  believing  him  able  to  get  out.     The  overseer 


w 


NORTH-SIDE   VIEW   OF   SLAVERY. 


383 


,200,— 
corn  u 
netimes 
and  else 
cause,  if 
not  like, 
shes.     I 
lay,  un- 
it was 
e  perse- 
here,  — 
of  my 
When  \\ 
rink  the 
ick  and 
ed  with 
of  being 
Ltution  I 
e  for  six 

3r  worse 
it"  made 
ed  to  be 
nen  and 
I  had 
A  block 
iaced  to 
die  him, 
h  a  bull 
jest  log 
ck  with 
itil  next 

I    n+   fhe 

Dverseer 


'■/■■ 
It' 


gave  me  so  many  minutes  to  go  and  get  him.  I  went 
back  for  him,  and  met  him  hobbling  along  with  the 
chain.  He  had  to  work  at  chopping  wood.  Three 
weeks  he  wore  the  chain :  then  myself  and  another 
bailed  him,  and  the  chain  was  taken  off:  if  he  had  run 
away,  we  were  to  wear  the  chain.  Three  days  after 
the  whipping,  he  was  allowed  no  food.  We  gave  him 
some  of  ours,  but  did  not  dare  let  it  be  known. 

The  whipping  was  because  he  ran  away.  He  ran 
away,  because  the  overseer  appropriated  his  wife.  The 
man  threatened  to  do  something  about  it,  —  the  over- 
seer threatened  him  with  a  whipping,  —  then  he  ran 
away.    I  know  all  this,  —  I  saw  the  treatment  with  my 

own  eyes.    E was  the  overseer's  name,  —  he  stayed 

there  three  years. 

While  under  E ,  I  was  put  on  short  allowance  of 

food  and  made  to  work  on  the  Sabbath,  etc.  I  waa 
then  a  professor  and  used  to  hold  prayer-meetings  Sat- 
urday  night.     One    Saturday   night,   during   meeting, 

E sent  for  me.     I  went  to  him.     He  told  me  to 

stay  until  he  had  eaten  breakfast  next  morning,  then 
he  would  stake  me  down  and  give  me  five  hundred 
lashes ;  for  he  would  n't  have  such  things  as  meetings 
carried  on.  I  managed  to  slip  off,  and  went  to  the  cab- 
ins. I  went  back  to  him  next  morning  while  he  was  at 
breakfast :  bis  wife  was  facing  me,  he-  was  back  to  me. 
She  pointed  at  me,  and  said,  "  there  he  is."  I  clapped 
my  hands  together  and  said,  "  In  the  name  of  God  why 
is  it,  that  I  can't  after  working  hard  all  the  week,  have 
a  meeting  on  Saturday  evening  ?  I  am  sent  for  to  re- 
ceive five  hundred  lashes  for  trying  to  serve  God.  I  '11 
suffer  the  flesh  to  be  dragged  off  my  bones,  until  my 
bones  stare  my  enemy  in  the  face,  for  the  sake  of  my 


384 


THE  refugee;  or  a 


'J-  ■ 


n    t . 


Hi" 


■  \  4 


i') 


blessed  Redeemer."  He  did  not  come  to  me,  —  he  ap- 
peared startled  at  my  appearance.  He  went  into  the 
house  from  the  porch,  got  his  gun  and  walked  away. 
After  he  had  gone  I  walked  away. 

I  think  the  reason  he  did  not  punish  me  was,  that 
once  when  it  got  to  me  that  he  said  he  would  whip  me, 
and  his  wife  wished  he  would,  1  had  said,  — "  If  he 
whips  me,  I  '11  put  him  and  his  wife  in  hot  water."  I 
knew  that  he  had  been  intimate  with  some  of  the  slave 
women.  He  told  me  at  one  time  to  leave  my  cabin 
door,  so  he  could  get  in,  in  the  night,  on  account  of  one 
of  two  girls  that  were  there.  I  left  the  door  on  the 
latch,  and  warned  the  girl.  He  came  —  but  she  strug- 
gled against  him,  got  away,  and  came  to  the  bed  where 
were  I  and  my  wife.  His  wife  heard  what  I  said  about 
"hot  water,"  and  sent  for  me,  making  an  excuse  about  a 
partition.  She  placed  a  chair  near  me,  "  Well,  Eli,"  she 
says,  "  what 's  that  you  was  going  to  put  me  and  my 
husband  in  hot  water  for  ?  "  I  tried  to  turn  it  off.  She 
insisted,  and  at  last  got  mad  because  I  would  n't  tell 
her,  and  said  she  'd  make  him  make  me  tell.  He  made 
her  believe,  that  he  would  make  me  tell,  and  he  told 
me  that  he  would  n't  for  his  right  arm  have  his  wife 
know.  So  I  knew  what  grounds  I  stood  on,  and  kept 
clear  of  the  lash. 

The  next  overseer  was  S .     He  kicked  a  woman's 

eye  out,  the  first  day  he  came  there.  He  asked  her  a 
question  in  the  gin-house,  which  she  did  not  under- 
stand. She  said  "  No,  Sir,"  at  a  venture.  The  an- 
swer was  wrong — she  was  stooping  down,  and  he 
kicked  her  face.  It  put  her  eye  out.  He  went  to  the 
house  for  something  to  put  on  it.  She  cried  out  aloud. 
Said  he,  "  Shut  up !  I  've  killed  a  great  many  better 


h 


NORTU-SIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVERY. 


385 


\\ 


looking  niggers  than  you,  and  thrown  'em  in  the 
bayou."  This  I  heard  him  say  myself.  Nothing  was 
done  about  the  loss  of  the  eye :  the  woman's  husband 
dared  say  nothing  about  it     In   three  weeks'   time, 

8 whipped  three  women  and  nine  men.     The  talk 

in  the  quarters  was  among  some  to  put  him  to  death ; 
others  were  afraid  to  try  it  He  left  before  the  month 
was  up ;  another  named  W was  then  overseer. 

He  went  on  rather  roughly.  There  had  been  an  un- 
derhanded business  done  in  selling  cattle  and  wood  off 
the  place,  from  which  master  had  no  benefit,  in  conse- 
quence of  which,  I  was  privately  made  a  sort  of  watch- 
man over  the  place. 

After  W ,  the  next  overseer,  was  my  master's 

brother.  At  the  end  of  two  years,  they  fell  out  about 
settling  —  the  master  said  he  was  broke:  they  drew 
knives,  threatening  each  other,  but  did  not  use  them. 
Master  said  he  would  take  the  best  slaves  off  the  place, 
and  then  sell  the  place,  with  the  sorriest  ones  on  it. 
Then  he  said  he  could  n't  pay  his  brother  in  money, 
but  his  brother  might  take  it  in  slaves.  The  brother 
picked  out  myself,  wife,  and  two  children  and  two 
others,  which  was  too  many.  Master  objected  —  then 
they  drew  the  knives.  Master  gave  him  me,  wife,  and 
children.  At  night,  fearing  he  might  take  the  others, 
he  took  them  himself,  to  his  upper  place,  where  he 
lived  above  Natchez. 

My  new  master  removed  us  to  Kentucky.  We 
were  all  the  slaves  he  had.  We  raised  tobacco,  oats, 
etc.  I  considered  my  treatment  worse  than  at  any 
other  place.  They  gave  me  great  encouragement  to 
come  with  them,  promising  me  well.  Among  other 
things,  he  promised  to  pay  me  $10.25,  earned  by  me  at 
overwork  chopping.     After  I  got  to  Kentucky,  I  want- 

33 


386 


THB  rsfuoeb;  or  a 


ed  a  hat.  I  went  and  picked  one  out,  and  told  the 
nhr^man  I  'd  get  the  money  of  my  mastcri  I  sent  his 
son  in  fo  asic  for  it.  He  sent  me  word  that  if  I  men- 
tioned money  again,  or  told  atiy  person  that  he  owed  it, 
he  would  give  me  five  hundred  lashes  !  A  while  after, 
I  »-ked  him  to  give  me  a  little  money.  "  What  do 
you  want  of  money  ?  "  "  To  buy  me  a  hat."  "  Is  n*t 
that  hat  good  enough  ?  "  "  It  don't  turn  the  wa '  cr,  and 
I  see  the  colored  people  wearing  respectabL  hat<,  •  nd 
I  want  one  to  wear  to  meeting."  He  s^ri-"'  'go  to  stich 
a  place,  get  a  wool  hat,  and  have  it  v^haij^i.  to  me," 
I  went  and  got  it,  —  it  was  a  poor  ■'.i''^,  and  cost  one 
dollar.  I  did  what  he  wanted  as  well  as  I  could,  to 
avoid  punishment.     I  staid  with  him  three  years. 

One  day  he  had  ordered  me  to  draw  some  water  on 
a  sled:  then  he  called  me  into  the  field.  I  stooped 
down  to  unloose  a  chain,  —  he  hurried  up  to  me  with 
an  axe  in  his  hand.  He  says,  "  When  I  want  you  for 
one  thing,  you  are  sure  to  do  another."  I  answered, 
"  I  \  e  got  to  work  till  I  die,  and  had  as  lief  work  at  one 
thing  as  another."  He  threatened  me  with  the  axe  —  I 
did  n't  dodge.  Then  he  threatened  me  that  he  would 
give  me  the  five  hundred  lashes  before  many  days.  I 
thought  he  might  finally  undertake  it,  and  that  I  'd  bet- 
ter be  off.  I  received  assistance  from  kind  friends,  and 
reached  Canada  without  difficulty  about  five  years  ago. 
I  have  had  a  serious  time  in  my  life. 

I  felt  so  thankful  w-ri  re<^c^Ing  a  land  of  freedom,  that 
I  couldn't  express  »  vi^fu"  vVhen  1  ^ook  back  at  what 
I  endured,  it  seems  as  if  I  had  entered  a  Paradise.  I 
can  here  sing  and  pray  with  none  to  molest  mg.  I  am 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  endeavor  to  live 
a  Christian  life. 

I  rent  a  piece  of  land,  and  make  out  to  live.     My 


NORTH-SIDE  VIEW  OP  8LAVKBY. 


387 


family  are  sickly,  so  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  pur- 
chase land.  But  I  am  not  di^^couragcd,  and  intend  to 
work  on  while  I  have  health  and  strenj^th,  and  to  live 
iuch  a  life  as  I  should  wish  when  I  come  to  die. 


END. 


I 


4  <i 


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.V--i'.'V-'"-i*'  T-  "yvi^'- "''■'..- 


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■rf*- t^lv;-'- 


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man  of  fine  habits  of  observation,  possesses  a  lively  mind,  and  is  a  graphic  writer. 
Besides,  he  is  a  man  who  knows  whereof  he  writes,  and  one  who  writes  ft-om  a 
Christian  stand-point.  From  the  amount  of  ancient,  profane  and  sacred  history 
with  which  he  brings  his  observations  into  association,  his  work  is  as  Instructive 
as  it  ly  hiterestlng."  —  SprinaftOd  RepiMican. 

"This  Is  decidedly  the  most  Instructive  and  satisfactory  book,  respecting  Egypt 

and  everything  appertaining  to  that  old  and  Interesting  country,  that  we  bave 

I  ever  met  with."  —  XufAeran  Obferver,  foUifflore.     ' 


m***- 


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TALUABLB  BOOKS,  PVBLISHJTO  B7 


MOTHERS  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

BY 

MRS.  8.  0.  A8HT0N. 

WITH 


AN    INTRODUCTION    BY    BEV.  A.  L.  STONE. 


Plain  cloth,  $1.26 ;  gUt,  $1.76  {  calf,  gUt,  $2.60. 


"This  volame  commendi  itaelf  to  our  favor  when  we  notice  the  name  of  the 
writer  of  the  introduction.  "We  entertain  for  Mr.  Stone  the  most  profound  respect 
As  a  writer,  he  has  peculiar  merit ;  and  In  all  respects  he  is  a  man.  His  ccm< 
mendation  would  give  us  confidence  to  endorse  any  work  he  had  examined.  The 
'  Mothers '  are  described  with  a  good  deal  of  feeling,  and  with  power,  and  perhaps 
we  might  say,  with  genius ;  for  the  author  Is  quicic  In  detecthig  character  Ih>m 
trilling  Incidents.  The  book  will  interest  every  lover  of  the  Bible.  In  the  execu- 
tion of  the  work,  the  publishers  deserve  all  praise.  Mr.  Jewett  has  here  given  us 
the  handsomest  volume,  for  the  price,  we  have  ever  seen."— PfotvA,  Zoom  atid 
AhvO,  N.  T. 

"A  valuable  as  well  as  a  beautiful  book.  It  contains  accounts  of  the  women  of 
the  scripture  who  brought  up  children,  and  Its  ohiect  is  to  show  what  are  the  best 
and  must  scriptural  modes  of  educating  the  young.  It  will  please  our  religious 
readers,  and  suggest  many  useftil  Ideas  to  mothers."— JDaily  Courant,  Hartfori. 

"Here  Is  a  charming  book  which  every  Christian  mother  should  possess."- 
Ind.  Democrat,  Concord. 

"  An  invaluable  volume,  a  precious  offering,  which  we  trust  will  find  its  way  to 
many  a  youthful  hand,  to  many  a  maternal  bosom." —American  Courier. 

"The  author  has  a  noble  theme,  and  faithAiUy  has  it  been  unfolded  and  en- 
forced."—(7Ar<«tt'a»  Chronicle,  PhUaddphia. 

"  It  Is  such  a  book  that  no  one  but  a  lady  could  have  written,  and  such  an  one 
as  no  lady  can  fall  to  enjoy  in  reading." —JSk/enifw  TraveUer,  Boston. 

"It  Is  the  product  of  a  beautiful  mind,  evldenUy  under  the  guidance  of  a  truly 
Christian  and  devout  spirit."  -Ptiritan  Recorder. 

"  It  is  a  good  book,  and  will  repay  more  than  one  reading  by  all  upon  whnn  rests 
the  Joyf\il  responsibility  of  maternity."— CSi>iv<0<><<o**o^<<<- 


& 


I*- 


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TALVABUI  BOOKS,  PUBU8HXD  BT 


f  tt  ^npslan  J^ge  ai  Siuti. 


LOUIS  XIV.       *^ 
the:  writers   of  his  aqb. 

BY    RCV.   J.   F.   A8TIE. 

Sntrobnciton  anb  Sranslstion 

IBI  EBV.  E.  N.  KIRK. 
i;       In  one  rolume,  13bio.     Prio*  $1.00.   . 


The  following  disoriminating  notice  of  this  elegant  work  is  from 
the  Editor  of  the  Evkniho  Tbaybllbb,  Boston. 

"  ▲  work  of  high  Interest,  end  which  w«  have  peniaed  with  the  greatest  satlslho- 
tlon.  Of  Louis  the  Fourteenth  himself  but  little  Is  said ;  but  a  very  Just  estlnuite 
of  the  Grand  Monarque's  character  Is  given ;  and  the  author,  who  Is  evidently  a 
ripe  scholar,  then  proceeds  In  a  tone  of  flne,  genial  criticism,  to  lay  before  us  th* 
merits  of  the  principal  eA<r<  <r<mivrw  of  the  great  writers  of  that  period — Pascal, 
OomelUe,  Fenelon,  La  Fontaine,  Boileau,  Racine  and  Mollere.  We  scarcely  know 
which  most  to  admire,  the  beauties  of  those  authors  brought  under  our  notice,  or 
the  admirable  taste  displayed  by  the  lecturer  in  Ills  selection.  His  review  of  Pae> 
cal's  celebrated  Provindai  Letters,  which  show  up  In  their  undisguised  enormity 
the-doctrines  and  policy  of  the  Jesuits,  should  be  read  by  all  who  candidly  desire 
true  intbrmatlon  on  that  subject  Indeed,  the  whole  work  has  given  us  delight, 
and  we  IM  satlsfled  that,  than  these  lectures.  It  would  be  Impossible  to  have  any 
better  bitroductlon  to  the  study  of  French  literature  as  existing  tai  what  has  been 
termed  the  Augustan  age  of  France.  The  tranSIatlm  anwars  to  have  been  very 
fldthAiUy  made  by  Mr.  KM,  who  has  displayed  his  talents  in  a  new  department, 
by  rendering  the  French  poetry  with  which  the  lectures  are  interspersed,  Into 
KngUsh  rtiyme." 

"  It  U  a  book  to  go  upon  the '  flrstHrate*  Uteraiy  sheK"  »  CbHffrevaMeiMlM,  £(M(. 

"  This  is  unquestionably  one  of  the  most  valuable  additions  to  our  hli^ier  liters 
atnre  that  has  been  given  to  the  public  of  late.**— JBIvsnifW  TOegn^  Betten. 


"It  unlUds  to  us  more  ftilly  than  any  other  work  we  remember  to  have  seeQ 
the  vast  power  which  characterised  French  Uteratnze  at  a  certatai  period.*'— 

Ih 7^ Ml 


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£. 


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